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not approved by channels”. Nazir strongly feels that TV
channels need to diversify in the issues that they explore on TV. “Sometimes I want to do an issue-based
drama serial, because I really feel strongly about it, but
such concepts usually don’t appeal to channels.” This,
despite the fact that one of her most successful drama
serials, Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon, was ‘uncommon’, because the protagonist was male and the theme tackled
the issues of youth.Because TRPs have such a decisive
impact on content, Nazir feels writers are discouraged
by channels from experimentation — such as writing
stories that are set in rural areas. “I would really like to
see outdoor rural shots, instead of stories that move
from one room to another. Even if I do write an outdoor
scene, it doesn’t appear onscreen and I am later told
it wasn’t shot because the director didn’t want to make
the extra effort.” Nazir does not believe that there is a
formula that can be applied and which will result in high
TRPs. “I don’t think the roti dhoti aurat is a formula that
works. Mindsets have changed. Dramas that do well are
those that are reflective of people’s lives and life is not
all about crying. Life is expansive; there are so many different aspects.” She cites the example of one of her recent drama serials, “My last drama Sehra Mein Safar did
fairly well and it was about a woman who has to work.
She doesn’t want to work, but at the end of the day she
is a working woman. People related to the drama. In my
opinion, people like reality-based dramas.” Represent-
ing the channels’ point of view, Anwar seconds Nazir’s
belief, “There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to
deciding content. Anything that people can relate to will
work.” In a world that serves as a juncture between business and creativity, TRPs are bound to become a bone
of contention for the different players in the drama serial
game. There are those who believe that TRP figures are
manipulated or outright concocted. Others, such as Nazir, don’t believe that TRPs are always reflective of what
the audience is watching: “I sometimes feel that ratings
are based on such a small sample and just a few meters. I am not sure about how representative they are.”
On the other hand, in defence of TRPs, Anwar cites the
example of the currently on-air drama Udaari, a serial
that faced much controversy for tackling child abuse as
one of its themes and which was nearly taken off air by
Pemra. “With Udaari we didn’t just get feedback from
TRPs. So many people came up to me personally to
tell me that they were watching it. And when the Pemra
controversy happened, so many people called me to
find out if we were going to air it. So the TRP figures we
were getting confirmed the personal feedback I was getting.” Ask her if ratings are important and Anwar gives a
self assured reply, “Of course. When you are in school,
you give an exam. The result of the exam is important.
Grades are important. Similarly you can say that our ratings are our grades. It is because of ratings that we get
ads and sponsorships.”
17 | BOOM