On this birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, popularly known as Quaid-e-Azam, here’s a list of Pakistani drama serials which you can add to your watch-list for a glimpse into the leader’s life as well as for having an idea of his ideology as the creator of Pakistan.
Jinnah Ke Naam
‘Jinaah Ke Naam’ was a 2009 drama serial written by the man behind blockbusters such as ‘Dar Si Jati Hai Sila’, ‘Raqeeb Se’ and ‘Ranjha Ranjha Kardi’, the ace-director and sometimes screenwriter, Kashif Nisar. The direction of the serial was helmed by Tariq Mairaj who roped in Saba Qamar and Sami Khan as the leading actors. ‘Jinnah Se Naam’ was a creative glimpse into Quaid’s life, apparently emerging as a romantic drama serial but subtly paying a tribute to Muhammad Ali Jinnah. ‘Jinnah Ke Naam’ happens to be one of the most popular serials from the initial days of the career of Saba Qamar, who played Fatima Jinnah in it.
Jinnah Se Quaid-e-Azam
‘Jinnah Se Quaid-e-Azam’ is perhaps the most detailed drama serial to have ever been produced on the life of Quaid-e-Azam. Written by Kaif Rizwan and directed by the great Mohsin Ali, ‘Jinnah Se Quaid’ was a production of Pakistan Television, the on-screen look of which was deliberately kept black-and-white despite its release in the early 2000s. This was done in order to fulfill the purpose of making a docu-drama taking the viewers into the past. A thoroughly well-researched drama, ‘Jinnah Se Quaid’ meticulously brought before the viewers the life of Quaid, from his birth to his success as a political leader and his eventual demise. To give a more dramatic touch to it, the serial was narrated by the character of Fatima Jinnah penning her diary and reading out passages from it regarding the ups and downs of Jinnah’s life.
Dastaan
‘Dastaan’ was a high-budgeted HUM TV production, which, if looked at superficially, may seem to be just another serial on the atrocities that took place in 1947. However, a closer look into the narrative, particularly the last episode makes the viewer realize that the serial is a jab at the irony that Pakistan never turned out to be as heavenly a place as expected.
When Bano, performed by Sanam Baloch, finally makes it to Pakistan but faces sexual harassment, she turns insane seeing that this isn’t the country where Quaid-e-Azam had promised safety to the Muslims. To put it in a nutshell, by the time ‘Dastaan’ came to an end, it had successfully inculcated the idea that Pakistanis need to carry the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam forward, which is unfortunately facing sever negligence.
