Old never gets old!! It always remains classy and ideal in every era no matter what it is.
It was 1964 when the first ever transmission aired in the country, and it has been considered the most memorable year in Pakistan’s television history. At that time, PTV was the only source of entertainment for the entire nation. In the early days of PTV, there was no 24/7 transmission, and programs used to be telecasted at fixed times. During the limited time, there were a variety of shows that provided entertainment to every age group of people.
Here’s a top ten list of some of the old but unforgettable plays that define our television and always have remained favorite of all time.
AANGAN TEHRA
It is one of the most magnificent satirical plays in Pakistan’s television history. It was presented by PTV in the late 1980s, written by the legend Anwar Maqsood and directed by Qaisar Farooq. The drama’s plot was based on the characteristics of Pakistani society ranging from the effects of Martial Law and indirect criticism of military regimes and the electoral system. The show starred Shakeel, Salim Nasir, Bushra Ansari, Arshad Mahmood & Durdana Butt in the lead roles. The story took an unexpected turn when Anwar Maqsood himself appears in the last episode to announce that the series is about to end.
DHOOP KINARAY
Well written and directed by the most distinguished women in the drama industry, Haseena Moin & Sahira Kazmi. It is still considered one of the best serials as it captivated the audience’s attention through its unique theme. Dhoop Kinaray is a fast-paced story that follows a team of doctors working together in a hospital. The serial’s lead actors Marina Khan & Rahat Kazmi became the audience’s favorite on-screen couple.
AN KAHI
Most admired show of the ’80s filled with humor and appealing script. Ankahi was written by Haseena Moin and directed by the influential personality Shoaib Mansoor & Mohsin Ali. The play featured the story of a young talented girl who is very lively and wants to become rich but fate doesn’t side with her since her father passed away when she was young. The ensemble cast includes Shahnaz Sheikh, Javaid Sheikh, Badar Khalil, Behroze Sabzwari & Salim Nasir.
DHUWAN
An action, thriller-filled serial which revolved around five friends who took the challenge to fight against terrorists and drug dealers. The drama was brilliantly written by Ashir Azeem who also played the major role of Azhar. It has a coveted cast of Nabeel, Wajid Ali Shah, Zubair Khan Achakzai, and Nayyar Ejaz. It is one of the hit dramas that ruled over the hearts of people till now because of the strong storyline.
KHUDA KI BASTI
This is one of the classic dramas on PTV which gained a lot of popularity among the masses. This was an adaptation of a popular novel by Shaukat Siddiqui. The drama had an unfamiliar storyline focusing on societal issues of society. Khuda Ki Basti was also introduced to the syllabus of drama academies in Pune, India, and Europe.
TANHAIYAN
Another best play in Pakistan’s television history sets new records in the industry and became popular. This classic play was written by the legendary Haseena Moin and directed by Shahzad Khalil. It showed how two young women lives their life after the death of their parents. It stars Badar Khalil, Shehnaz Sheikh, Marina Khan, Behroze Sabzwari and Qazi Wajid.
WARIS
It is a story that depicted the tribal setups in Pakistan and showed how a feudal family struggles to maintain their wealth and land, and how the inter-family differences and clashes become the reason for their downfall. Waris was written by Amjad Islam Amjad and directed by Nusrat Thakur & Ghazanfar Ali. The main cast includes Samina Ahmed, Abid Ali, and Mehboob Alam.
UNCLE URFI
It was a black & white tv series listed as one of the most liked old Pakistani dramas which had appealed the viewers of all age groups and are considered a milestone in the tv entertainment industry. It was penned by Haseena Moin and well-directed by Mohsin Ali & Shireen Waqar Azeem. The title role was played by Shakeel and the female lead role was played by Shahla Ahmed. The plot was related to a person (Uncle Urfi) who returned to Pakistan from Canada, and the story goes on, however, it took a new turn when Uncle Urfi gradually attracted to the heroine but doesn’t express his love for her. Meanwhile, the heroine also begins to like him. But the ending was not a happy one.
TALEEM E BALEGHAN
It is one of the best political satires ever made. The beauty of this show and the outstanding script is that it’s timeless, it doesn’t matter when and where you watch despite any political situation, the content is evergreen. This masterpiece was written by the comedian Kh. Moinuddin
ALIF NOON
This comedy television series was written & directed by Kamal Ahmed Rizvi. It was mainly the story of two friends who are equal opposites to each other, Allan (Kamal Ahmed Rizvi) was a clever and immoral businessman, and the other is Nannha (Rafi Khawar) who was a decent and innocent village man. The series covered serious social issues without getting too serious.
