In 2010, the “Baraat” series pioneered the concept of the “Ramadan drama,” a drama which aired daily after iftar to relieve tired minds after a long day of fasting. However, post the Baraat series, that lull was deeply felt and the post abandoned until 2018, when “Suno Chanda” relaunched this concept. Since then, Pakistani drama viewers are treated to 3-4 Ramadan dramas which air daily. Often, it is hard to keep up with all of them and it takes a few days to see which ones are truly worthwhile Let’s discuss the Ramadan 2023 lineup.
Hum TV has two launches, the first being the highly anticipated “Chand Tara.” This show brings back the Saima Akram Chaudhry and Danish Nawaz writer-director duo who just wrapped up “Kaala Doriya.” Starring real life spouses Danish Taimoor and Ayeza Khan, the story is described as being a fun-filled rollercoaster ride of love. Looking at how well-written “Kaala Doriya” was, here’s hoping we get the same quality with “Chand Tara.” As of right now, this is the number one choice for drama viewers.
The next Hum TV launch is “Fairy Tale,” an opposites attract sort of story with Hamza Sohail and Sehar Khan in lead roles. This is also the debut for Adnan Raza Mir, the son of Asif Raza Mir and younger brother of Ahad Raza Mir. Along with the leads, the show also stars Salma Hassan, Saleem Sheikh, Ali Safina and others in supporting roles. This show has been written by Sarah Majeed and directed by Ali Hassan. The fresh cast makes this one to look out for.
When it comes to Har Pal Geo, they tend to maintain some sort of secrecy regarding the titles of their shows. Do they believe not knowing the title increases interesting somehow? They would be mistaken. Regardless, like Hum TV, Geo also has two launches for Ramadan. The first stars Imran Ashraf and Amar Khan, the “Dum Mastam” duo, and the drama has been written by Amar Khan herself. Ahsan Afzal Khan, the son of Rambo and Sahiba, also makes his debut in this drama. Directed by Saima Waseem, Hero Jutt and Heer Jutt seem like two loud, fun characters and, hopefully, this one will be worthwhile.
The next show on Geo is the Muneeb Butt and Komal Meer starrer, most likely titled “Rukhma Roshan.” Both actors are underrated and talented, so it’s great to see them headlining a Ramadan drama, which will give them a lot of visibility. This romance, labeled a love-hate relationship, seems cute enough and this show has a great supporting cast including Mehmood Aslam, Shamim Hilaly, Salman Shahid, Hira Soomro, Saleem Miraj, Zainab Qayyum and others. This is one to look forward to.
There is also “Jhoom,” starring Haroon Kadwani and Zara Noor Abbas, but it’s not clear if this is a telefilm, drama or Ramadan drama. Again, Geo isn’t great at transparency with their shows. This story revolves around a young guy in love with an older girl and how such relationships are viewed in society. This has a worthwhile story if Haroon proves himself to be a worthwhile performer.
These are the dramas set to premiere on the first evening of Ramadan. Which one are you most looking forward to?
