While flipping through the channels, I stared blankly at the TV screen as I sat there wondering how the media has evolved over the past few years. From just a single black and white channel to a vast variety to choose from, the media has done its part in not only entertaining us but also keeping us updated on what’s happening around the globe, but not without some repercussions.
Not so long ago, the women, allegedly the chief audience of the tube, were hooked on to the Indian soaps, so much so that they were adopting the Indian culture as their own, with use of Hindi language in their everyday conversation, mimicking their style of dressing, pouring thousands of their hard earned money on make up in their efforts to look more and more like the Tulsis, Parvatis and Kashishs of the Indian television industry.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, the Pakistani media thought it their duty to start making dramas that would revolve around the same plots as the Indian soaps, with the same exaggerated expressions and glamorous ambience, in hopes of attracting more viewers.
In the past, the plays echoed real life issues with the performers focusing solely on expressing the emotions that were required, not a show of amplified sentiments. Most of the current inclination of our entertainment industry as far as television is concerned is to provide the juiciest show they possibly can without worrying about its consequences. From how I see it, it has become a race and media is trying its utmost to win it any way it can.
Lately, to my utter astonishment and horror, an astounding number of dramas are being filmed on topics that are not even close to reality. The favourite theme of every channel nowadays is extramarital affair, prostitution and/or promiscuity. Gone are the days when the dramas that were made to view in the family hour, could be viewed with the family. This is contrary to the current trends of productions.
Why then do we worry about the youth not being as innocent as they were back in olden days? Are we not responsible for most of what has happened? As goes the saying, as you sow, so shall you reap!
I still think our duty as a citizen of the state is not finished. If we want a better Pakistan, a state which was founded on the ideology of Islam and named for its purity, we need to come forward and speak up for putting a stop to absurdities like immoral representation of our culture and blatant spread of debauchery by some of the private productions.