Does someone remember the early 2000s when most of the audience, even on this side of the border, was obsessed with Ekta Kapoor’s dramas on Star Plus. Every single day of the week, from 8 to 11pm, people would be glued to Star Plus watching the never ending family dramas Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and then our personal favorite, Kahiin Toh Hoga.
Now why do we mention these serials today? Because most of our own dramas are now heading towards a similar storyline. Especially the hit ongoing serial Tere Bin. Not that we don’t love Murtasim and Meerab’s story, of course we do, but with the drastic change of events the drama has taken and with all the unnecessary frills added to it, Tere Bin has lately started to feel very Star Plus-y.
Watching Murtasim, we’re reminded of the every girl’s early 2000s crush Rajeev Khandelwal aka Sujal Garewal, the first and most happening angry young man on television ever. And yes Rajeev Khandelwal’s Sujal had and still has a cult fan following around the world, just like Wahaj Ali’s Murtasim does today.
Is It A Rip Off?
Even though, Tere Bin might not be a Kahiin Tog Hoga rip off but Murtasim and Meerab’s love hate relationship is definitely inspired by Star Plus and its earlier dramas. In fact, the specific sleeping arrangements in particular scenes and the way Murtasim retaliates while claiming he has a right to sleep where he likes, the drama definitely has picked up its romantic inspiration from the Indian channel.
Then comes the love-hate relationship of the leading couple. Come on guys, this isn’t something we haven’t seen before. Kahish hated Sujal and yet married him. The two shared similar intense chemistry between them with scenes holding the audience to the edge of their seats.
Not only that but Meerab being at the root cause of every trouble that Murtasim and his family lands in, is another trait inspired by Star Plus’s dramas. It often boils up to the lady to save the day and Meerab does.
Meerab’s character, which started off as a very strong and vocal female character has again been reduced to eye candy in Tere Bin, where she is now acting as the love struck, doe eyed woman, causing more trouble than she intends to and the vixen Haya, getting away with trapping her easily.
Where is the intelligent Meerab gone? Or the high TRPs Meerab’s distressed character is earning, highly inspired by popular storylines, swallowed whatever potential it had.
Why Is Tere Bin A Hit?
Not an hour goes by and popular dramas, the likes of Tere Bin hit approx 10 million views on YouTube instantly. One cannot help but wonder if it is absolute magic that we see. Although presenting scattered genres all at once, Tere Bin has built a cult following for itself.
The drama dabbles in all sorts of ideas like an opposites attracting couple, larger-than-life characters, the near impossible suspense situations and an iconic love story and leaves people only gapping at their screens whilst taking all in. Even though the storyline drags every week, people flock in to watch Tere Bin for all that we know.
We often pride ourselves saying that Pakistani TV industry and its audiences are maturing, looking for sensible and concrete content but then again, every once in a while we’re bombarded with dramas like Tere Bin that just leave us baffled.
We say that the audiences’ tastes are changing away from over-the-top, heart-wrenching family dramas replete with the love hate relationship of the leading couple, the dutiful daughter-in-laws, the third wheel in a couple’s life and a detestable mother in laws and yet millions and millions of viewers flock to the television channels and social media handles to get a look at their favorite actors in meaningless dramas.
Maybe the fault isn’t with Geo and other producers, but with our audience and the kind of content they prefer? Let us know in the comments.
