A cursory glance at Indian TV serials would reveal that they are stuck in the era of “Udaariyaan Written Update” types. They portray women as nothing more than a husband’s property.

They claim to champion women empowerment, yet churn out episodes that glorify problems like chauvinism, domestic violence and many more.
1. Concept

For any drama to work, it must first have a concept. Developing a concept involves brainstorming ideas, researching existing shows and coming up with unique characters and storylines. It also includes writing a script and developing a plot outline.

Sadly, Hindi serials seem to have abandoned this principle in favour of cliched narratives. While they claim to champion women empowerment, they churn out episodes that promote sexism, domestic violence and other social evils.

One of the most memorable Pakistani TV serials was Humsafar, which starred Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan as two lovers who navigated through jealousy, resentment and despair. It portrayed true love without any of the melodrama that plagues Hindi soaps. It had a realistic take on relationships and was free from the dragging and negativity that plagues many hindi dramas.
2. Storyline

A well-written and complex story is what makes a great drama serial. It takes a lot of effort to come up with a concept, research existing shows and create a unique plot line. It also involves writing the script, collaborating with a team of writers and creating character profiles.

Bollywood dramas are notorious for revolving around Big Fat Indian Weddings. Almost every episode has some sort of wedding rituals, and the characters are stuck in a never-ending cycle of bijli and nikah.

They also tend to promote problematic behaviour like chauvinism, sexism and domestic violence. But the makers claim that they champion women empowerment and fight against all forms of injustices in society. While it’s good that they’re highlighting social issues, it’s sad that they are promoting the perpetrators of these issues in the name of getting high TRP ratings.

Pakistani dramas, on the other hand, are able to keep their stories simple and interesting without being boring or negative. Unlike Hindi serials that are getting shittier day by day, Pakistani dramas depict their characters as real people and not as dressed-up bobo dolls. They also avoid using the ‘dheem tanatanan’ sound effects that are so common in hindi dramas.
3. Cast

Naina Bhan as Koel Kalra, Balli's girlfriend and a rich businesswoman who is cold, manipulative, and extremely wealthy. She is ruthless in her pursuit to be at the top and will do anything to achieve this, including covering up her faults. She has a softer side as well and will stand up for those she cares about.

Madhyama Segal as Saba Manzoor, one of the three transfer students who is academically driven and keeps her religious values close to heart. She is a Kashmiri immigrant and faces racism at school. She is also Veer's love interest.

Zeyn Shaw as Veer Ahuja, a hot-headed popular student who believes his way is always the best. He has a privileged background and doesn't bond with the other transfer students.
4. Music

Humsafar enthralled a nation and catapulted Fawad and Mahira into superstardom. This awe-inspiring drama is more than just a love story, it’s a map of the human heart and a window into the most complex of emotions. Unlike Bollywood dramas, where negative characters are presented with deep kohl eyes and loud makeup, this drama kept it real, and was refreshingly positive in its approach. This made it a winner! It is a must-watch. Watch the trailer here.
5. Promotion

A rousing tale of two lovers caught in a time warp, Dastaan is more than just a love story. This epic epic is a testament to the power of great scripting and performances. It also proves that budget need not be a constraint for producing excellent work.

The tumultuous times of partition and independence are vividly brought to life in this gripping series. A saga of hope, betrayal and revenge, this series is an absolute joy to watch. It also showcases the brilliant acting skills of Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan.

Too many serials claim to champion social causes like gender equality etc, but sadly they end up glorifying and advertising problematic behaviours like chauvinism, domestic violence etc. The makers of this serial did a superb job of depicting the horrors of child marriage.