Lahore
Pakistani dramas have come a long way in terms of content and popularity in the last five years or so. Though the media has to go through a lot of censorship and despite the commercialism and big corporate monopoly on content portrayed on screens, Pakistani dramas have proved how good they are and they have found their audience globally anywhere the language is spoken or understood.
The year 2024 turned out to be a great year for Pakistani shows as they reached a global audience with many dramas crossing over a billion views.
Some Pakistani dramas which turned out to be the best of the year had unique stories that touched the heartstrings while others had a massive massy appeal with millions waiting in lines to watch each episode.
Ishq Murshid starring Bilal Abbas Khan and Durefishan Saleem in the lead roles ended up becoming one of the biggest dramas of the year. The show had a unique feature where the audience got to see Sindhi culture in addition to comedy, romance, and some deeper messaging.
Ishq Murshid drew audiences in with its unique blend of complex characters, and thought-provoking social commentary. Ishq Murshid was not the best drama technically but it gave the audience a sigh of relief with its light story and comedy.
Ishq Murshid’s OST is also one of the best Pakistani songs to come out this year. The fact that Ishq Murshid was widely acknowledged as a visual treat added to its massive appeal. Among all the Pakistani dramas that aired this year, none has yet broken the records set by Ishq Murshid.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is hands down the best drama of 2024. This list of best Pakistani dramas will be incomplete without it. This drama marked the comeback of Fahad Mustafa to television and it also ended up giving us another iconic on-screen pairing of Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir.
The script of this Pakistani drama was tightly knit and dealt with the themes of partiality between children, low self-esteem in young men, and greed. Every actor gave their best in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum turning it into a global sensation.
Zard Patton Ka Bunn also makes it to the list of Best Pakistani Dramas of 2024. This was a Kashf Foundation project and dealt with social issues that are seldom talked about on television screens.
From population explosion to child labor and lack of basic health care system in rural Pakistan to snatching away girls’ right to education, all the issues were addressed in Zard Patton Ka Bun in an entertaining and digestible manner.
Jaan e Jahan marked the comeback of Hamza Ali Abbasi to the television screens. The drama made it to the 2024 Best Pakistani Dramas list as it not only brought a non-toxic male lead to the television in the form of Shehram but it also finally gave a happy ending to the beloved Pyare Afzal couple of Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan but in the form of Shehram and Mahnoor.
Jaan e Jahan was well-paced and had the right amount of positive and negative characters making it an entertaining watch.
Khaie proved to be a game changer for the stagnant Pakistani dramas industry. It brought forward a revenge story with people getting killed left, right, and center. Khaie hooked people from its very first episode and it was a roller coaster ride till the end.
Peppered with strong performances, great direction, and a tight-knit script, Khaie deserves a spot on the list of Best Pakistani Dramas 2024.
Noor Jahan was a multi-starrer drama that initially seemed like a typical saas-bahu saga, but it evolved into something much deeper. The story explored themes of generational trauma and familial toxicity, while also artfully addressing concepts of revenge and forgiveness.
Saba Hameed played the role of Noor Jahan and once again showcased why she is considered an evergreen superstar. This was hands down one of the most entertaining Pakistani dramas to air this year.
Standup Girl was one of those Pakistani dramas that demonstrated how diverse and unique stories can resonate with the audience. With a strong team behind it, the show offered a glimpse into the lives of often-overlooked artists in Pakistan.
It addressed issues such as classism, parental expectations, and the challenges of adulthood. This series serves as a testament to the fact that viewers are not naive; they crave more intelligent and thought-provoking content on their screens.
Mann Jogi is a mini-series aired on Hum TV and it had some of the best content to air on Pakistani television this year. Though it consisted of a limited number of episodes, Mann Jogi still made it to the list of 10 Best Pakistani Dramas of 2024 due to its real content, characters taken right from within the society and dealing with the themes of Halala and mob violence, two topics not many people will dare to talk about. The whole cast and crew got a winner with Mann Jogi and it is an important drama to watch.
