Remember the time when we would proudly say that Pakistani dramas are the best in the world? Most of the dramas today are centered around Indian gifted topics of SAAS BAHU quarrels. Well, this list of best Pakistani dramas of all time will show you the better side of it. Or shall I say, these are the actual Pakistani dramas?
The recent hit of Mere Pas Tum Ho enticed me to look deeper into the drama industry of Pakistan. I found the topic quite appealing and realized that we have come a long way. Rarely do we see dramas with such appropriateness.
The list of best Pakistani dramas of all time
It is indeed going to be the toughest task to actually rate them as I go along. So, I decided to name the best Pakistani dramas of all time instead of giving them ratings. Will you excuse me for this?
Ankahi – Released in 1982
I remember a scene from Ankahi that went viral a few days ago. A popular Indian movie copied this scene from the Pakistani drama serial Ankahi. The drama is about the struggles of a middle-class girl SANA, who knows and performs her responsibilities despite being clumsy.
Writer: Haseena Moin
Director: Shoaib Mansoor and Mohsin Ali
Producer: PTV
Cast: Shahnaz Sheikh, Shakeel, Javed Sheikh, Jamshed Ansari, Saleem Nasir, Qazi Wajid, Behroze Sabzwarim Badar Khalil and others.
Tanhaiyan – Released in 1985 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Old is gold as they say. Tanhaiyan fits that quote perfectly. This could be rated as one of the best Pakistani dramas of all time. Particularly when it comes to family dramas. We don’t have many family shows these days, do we? I mean the stories today are to break the families apart. This one, however, was a special family drama serial with an impeccable story.
Writer: Haseena Moin
Director: Shehzad Khalil
Producer: Shalimar Recording Company
Cast: Shahnaz Sheikh, Marina Khan, Behroze Sabzwari, Qazi Wajid, Yasmin Ismail, Durdana Butt and others.
Dhoop Kinare – 1987
If you’re a doctor, you’ll love this drama. If you’re not, you’ll like it even more. The drama revolved around the lives of medical professionals. That too in a very practical manner. Doctors today could learn a thing or two from the story. One of the best Pakistani dramas of all time.
Writer: Haseena Moin
Director: Sahira Kazmi
Producer: PTV
Cast: Rahat Kazmi, Sajid Hassan, Marina Khan, Badar Khalil, Arshad Mehmood, Kehkashan Awan, Ishrat Hashmi, Azra Sherwani, Hameed Wyne, Qazi Wajid and others.
Marvi – Released in 1993 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Feudal mindset, in particular, when a girl leaves her village to get higher education. It was, by all means, an eye-opener for the viewers. Know Mahnoor Baloch? Well, she is still young and beautiful. Just saying!
Writer: Nur-ul-Huda Shah
Director: Sultana Siddiqui
Producer: PTV
Cast: Ghazal Siddiqui, Hassan Qazi, Mahnoor Baloch, Badar Khalil, Noor Muhammad Lashari and others.
Aanch – Released in 1993 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Think what would be the content of a drama, today, if it was about a stepmother and her stepchildren? You’re right. It would memic world war 3. Aanch is a story of the same. Just written and directed rather rationally. One of the best Pakistani dramas of all time.
Writer: Naheed Sultana Akhtar
Director: Tariq Jameel
Producer: PTV
Cast: Shafi Muhammad Shah, Shagufta Ejaz, Sami Saani, Mehak Ali, Shehla Solangi, Ayesha Khan, Mehmood Ali, Qaisar Naqvi, Farheen Nafees, Kunwar Nafees and others.
Dhuwan – Released in 1994 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Don’t tell me you were not waiting to see this drama listed. If you were not, you probably are not a fan of Pakistani dramas. No one can skip listing this drama when talking about the best Pakistani dramas of all time.
Writer: Ashir Azeem
Director: Sajjad Ahmed
Producer: Sajjad Ahmed
Cast: Ashir Azeem, Nabeel Wajid, Ali Shah, Zubair Khan Achakzai, Nazli Nasr, Nayyar Ejaz, Rija Amir and others.
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Alpha Bravo Charlie – Released in 1998
ISPR’s first production of a drama serial. It was about some friends in the army. The drama does not require any depositions to be placed among the best Pakistani dramas. The story was cordial and the people loved it. They still do.
Writer: Shoaib Mansoor, Zia-ur-Rehman
Director: Shoaib Mansoor
Producer: ISPR, Shoman Productions
Cast: Qasim Khana, Abdullah Mahmood, Faraz Inam, Shahnaaz Khwaja, Aarshid Kazmi, Wiqar Ahmed, Hashmat Shaikh and others.
Meri Zaat Zara e Benishan – Released in 2009
Probably revived Pakistani dramas. After a long time, a drama came that really made people pay attention to Pakistani serials again. The story is about a girl who faces accusations against her character. Her husband had to choose between her and his family. Shall I spoil all the fun? No, I won’t. Go! find the drama and watch it yourself. Thank me later.
Writer: Umera Ahmed
Director: Baber Javed
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Cast: Faysal Qureshi, Samiya Mumtaz, Adnan Siddiqui, Sarwat Gilani, Imran Abbas, Samina Peerzada, Ismat Zaidi and others.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai – Released in 2009
Life is full of bloom and boon as the title describes “Zindagi Gulzar hai”. It’s a novel-based drama written by our very own Umera Ahmed The story is all about gender biases and different socio-economic classes and hardships of a middle-class girl Kashaf who earns a reputed position with her hard work. Along with the many twists and turns a beautiful love story of two people, opposite in thoughts and class starts and eventually ends up marrying each other. Someone once said True love always finds a way and this story makes you believe in that.
Writer: Umera Ahmed
Directed by: Sultana Siddique
Producer: Hum Television network (Moomal Productions)
Cast: Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Javed Shaikh, Samina Pirzada, Sheheryar Munawar, Mahreen Syed and other
Humsafar – Released in 2011 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Humsafar is you can say a revival of the drama industry It’s a real masterpiece to watch which received overwhelmingly positive response and gained immense popularity and large audience internationally.
Humsafar is based on Urdu romantic novel written by Farhat Ishtiaq. The story revolves around the two main protagonists Ashar and Khirad and the trials and problems of a married couple. The story seemed to be a very simple and ideal love story at the start but the sudden change in the middle of the series did all the wonders and make this the most-watched drama in Pakistan.
Writer: Farhat Ishtiaq
Directed By: Sarmad Khoosat
Producer: Hum Television network (Moomal Productions)
Cast: Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Noor-ul-Hassan, Behroz Sabzwari, Atiqa Odho, and Naveen Waqar.
Khuda Aur Muhabbat – Released in 2011
With a strong story and content, Khuda Aur Muhabbat is a unique and classic story that revolves around love, Religion, Tradition, society, values, and beliefs in life. A story of a rich modern boy who falls in love with a middle-class girl and goes against his family and left all his wealth, comforts, family & luxurious life to pursue his love.
I must say Khuda Aur Mohabbat is the ruler coaster of Emotion, love, and hardships with amazing dialogues and meaningful conversations.
Writer: Hashim Nadeem
Director: Anjum Shehzad
Production: Javeria Saud
Cast: Imran Abbas, Sadia Khan, Ahmed Jehanzeb, Fazila Qazi, Firdous Jamal.
Pyaray Afzal – Released in 2013
Females’ stories are dominant in the drama industry, isn’t it true? But Pyary Afzal is all about a young carefree man who is in love with a woman, but can’t express it later caught up with the wrong people and becomes an infamous gangster.
This drama personally has a great influence on my life as I learned a lesson that the most important thing in life is the love you give to and get from others is priceless, wealth and status are nothing in front of that love.
When it comes to script and dialogue, no one can beat Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, making Pyary Afzal a Hit. Yes, Pyary Afzal’s last episode was screened in cinemas across Pakistan and comes first in the list of TV serials to hit the big screen
Written by: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar
Director: Nadeem Baig
Production: Six Sigma Entertainment
Cast: Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ayeza Khan, Sana Javed, Sohai Ali Abro, Saba Hameed, Firdous Jamal Shehryar Zaidi
Sang-e-Marmar – Released in 2016
Sang-e-Mar Mar is a story of honor killing and Vanni – (using your daughter or sister to wash off your sins) This drama is full of deep and dark secrets of the stereotypical Pakhtun culture who still thinks honor killing is an honorable act.
Sang-e-Mar Mar truly represents the evil of society.
Writer: Mustafa Afridi
Director: Saife Hasan
Production: Momina Duraid
Cast: Noman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, Mikal Zulfiqar, Kubra Khan, Qazi Wajid, Omair Rana, and others
Udaari – Released in 2016 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Udaari is the thought-provoking drama of child abuse and extramarital affair which raises some very important and real issues of society. Udaari gained so much popularity and was the talk of the town due to the subject and the commendable performances
Writer: Farhat Ishtiaq
Director: Mohammed Ehteshamuddin.
Production: Momina Duraid with Kashf Foundation.
Cast: Ahsan Khan, Bushra Ansari, Hina Altaf, Samiya Mumtaz, Farhan Saeed, Urwa Hocane
Ab Dekh Khuda Kya Karta Hai – Released in 2018
We all heard these lines “what goes around comes around” this is what this drama is all about with social evils that prevail in our society. It is a serial worth watching. The story of a rich and fraudulent businessman who uses his power to trap young girls for his pleasure and manipulate them.
Writer: Syed Ameer Ali Shah Hussaini
Director: Syed Ali Raza Usama
Production: Babar Javed
Cast: Danish Taimoor, Sanam Chaudhry, Yashma Gill and Humayun Ashraf as the main leads.
Cheekh – Released in 2019
Cheekh is basically a crime thriller drama with a pretty sound script. A story of trials and tribulations of a woman Mannat who fights for justice on the brutal killing of her close friend and How she raised her voice against her family and go against his brother in law a who was a ruthless cold-blooded psychopath murderer and rapist and knows how to manipulate any situation.
Writer: Zanjabeel Asim Shah
Director: Badar Mehmood
Production: Big Bang Entertainment.
Cast: Bilal Abbas Khan, Saba Qamar, Aijaz Aslam ,Azekah Daniel, Maira Khan and Emmad Irfani.
Ishq Zahe Naseeb – Released in 2019 | Best Pakistani Dramas of All Time
Ishaq Zahe Naseeb is a mystery drama that comes with a totally different concept of a split personality disorder where a person experiences two or more personalities and that character is brilliantly played by Zahid Ahmed.
Writer: Hashim Nadeem
Director: Farooq Rind.
Production: MD Productions and Moomal Entertainment
Cast: Sonia Hussain, Zahid Ahmad, Sami Khan, Zarnish, Yumna Zaidi and others
References: All thanks to Google and Wikipedia for storing vital information, credible resources have been used from these two portals.
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