By Syed Wahaj Ahmed
KARACHI: Turkish historic dramas have taken a heavy toll on the local industry while overshadowing local plays being run on local screens.
Local actors and their acting seem almost worthless in plays which are being dramatized on the same and old-fashioned themes of love affairs and traditional feuds and the like.The imported plays brought the characters of history of the great Ottoman Empire.
Hurrem Sultan
The first Turkish drama which gained a great popularity in Pakistan was “Mera Sultan” where emperor Sultan Suleman Khan, the magnificent and his two famous wives and their children were seen acting in an amazing way where everything astonished the local audience from dashing heroes and charming girls, strong plots,
A powerful character of Hurrem Sultan who was the second consort of the emperor was busy hatching conspiracies and nefarious designs against her opponents inside and outside the palace. The emperor who was infatuated with her stunning beauty trusted everything whatever she said.
Although the emperor was an experienced ruler and carried out brave military offensive and evolved strategies to eliminate his formidable rivals and counterparts, yet he very often fell prey to oily conversations of Hurrem.
Suleman who doubted allegiance-cum-honesty of his elder and bold son, Prince Mustafa of his first spouse Mahidevran Sultan, made him slay on instigation of Hurrem. He also felt lamented and weakened for days.
The drama occupied the local screens for long and people watched the gloomy history of the palace where there were intrigues and fear of losing the rule coerced the emperor and his brothers and sons to cause enmity among themselves.
Kosem Sultan
The second play Kosem Sultan which drew public attention was seen eagerly by local audience. Kosem Sultan was the spouse of emperor Sultan Ahmed Khan who was cowardly as he saw around one dozen coffins of his paternal uncles being taken out from the palace in his childhood. He led his life thinking of that gory incident of massacre of close relatives perpetrated because of sedition and treachery by directives of his father. Sultan Ahmed was poisoned by his grandmother Safia Sultan over the greed of power, then Kosem her minor and younger son ascended the throne but in fact Kosem were taking all decisions of the state. The drama depicted monopoly of Kosem who enjoyed a lot.
Dirilis Ertugrul
Third Drama, Dirilis Ertugrul, gained rising popularity throughout the country and the West as it was an action play where Ertugrul was seen engaging himself and his other warriors against Christians under the guidance of a group of spiritual leaders called Safaed Dariwalai. He with his father and three brothers waged wars against the dominance of Christians and raised the status of Islam to new heights when Muslims were being oppressed by despotic and cruel non-Muslim governors in towns. He also launched full-fledged crusades against powerful Mongol chieftain-cum-Commander, Baiju Noyan who caught Ertugrul and subjected him to merciless torture and degrading treatment so that he left his crusades against non-Muslim lords and shook hands with this Mongol commander. He succeeded in escaping from the captivity and disbanded and destroyed the hideout of the Nuyan in the forest of Anatolia and surrounding areas. He was a staunch supporter of Seljuk King Allahuddin Kayqubad, but the king’s minister Amir Saadettin Kopek was an antagonist.
He always tried to defeat Ertugrul through his conspiracies but the protagonist always was successful in foiling designs of the minister. In the end, the minister took his reliable cook into confidence and killed the king through poisoning his food. He caused a mutiny to occupy the throne, but Ertugrul who was also a chieftain of his tribe foiled his plan and beheaded the minister after a long fight of warriors.
Kurulus Osman
Fourth play Kurulus Osman, which is being telecast and entertaining audience through war strategies of Osman who is the third son of Ertugrul Sardar. He is as bold, brilliant and intelligent as his father was. He is trying hard to establish his own empire in the drama where he keeps carrying out attacks on Mongul and Christian commanders with his faithful warriors where horses, swords, spears and all kinds of olden weapons are amusing viewers.
Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan
Fifth drama Payitaht Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan which is also being broadcast these days on the national Pakistan Television (PTV) are popular. This is a modern play that has been woven artistically and skillfully while enunciating all conspiracies and designs of the West including Christians and jews who could never see development and progress of Muslim states in the drama. All non-Muslim states with the connivance of traitors of the Ottoman Empire headed by Sultan Abdul Hamid are planning to dethrone the powerful Sultan.
The supremacy of these television action series prevail and Turkish historical plays present different levels of understanding among locals, that is why, the local drama industry is suffering a big loss and unable to face the Turkish glamorous and charming dramas while carrying beautifully-woven plots which amuse people including children, women, girls, youths, men and even old people.
It gives us a brief idea of the local and Turkish industries. Indeed it’s depicted precisely. No doubt, this article is quite informative.
Very Appreciated 😊👍
Keep it up! Syed Wahaj Ahmed!
Appreciated!
Good work! Keep it Up …!
I really enjoyed reading it as it is fact! Pakistanis, people of other countries are watching Turkish plays more nowadays.
It is in one of the most favourite series. Local actors look upset these days as plots of local plays are so boring and really old-fashioned. I do agree with the writer of this write-up!
This is a well-researched news story while drawing a clear-cut difference between the plays of the two Muslim countries.