Year of nuance

When Pakistani dramas tackled mental health issues

Some of our favourite dramas this year proved that you can mould formulas into a class of their own, something insightful and memorable. 2024 saw a focus on characters’ mental growth, with certain dramas opting not to sugarcoat how distressing solitary battles can get. From the suppression of emotions to the harrowing consequences of abuse, popular dramas of 2024 highlighted much-needed awareness on mental struggles without sensationalising them.

The undermined son

Undeniably, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum gave us a love story that was equal parts refreshing as it was gut-wrenching. But romance wasn’t the only form of love challenged by the plot’s obstacles.

Mustafa, happy-go-lucky as he insistently is in the beginning, doesn’t give you the impression of someone who’s ever affected by criticism. But as with every speck of his unlocked potential, Sharjeena spells out what is unclear to everyone else—be it the audience or Mustafa’s own family.

You see, the buoyant protagonist isn’t as carefree as he seems, and even he doesn’t realise it until he is informed of such. The serial is hence a notable example of how deep constant berating seeps in, especially when it comes from one’s own family. With high standards already established by his older brother, Mustafa has so much to live up to—many expectations to bear him down—that he stops trying until his only source of support intervenes.

It is only under Sharjeena’s guidance that he stops wasting his potential and pursues his hobby to a productive end. Granted, he gets carried away at some point, but he begins to acknowledge his worth. It is through Mustafa that we learned just how easily sincere encouragement can elevate one’s self-esteem and how important it is to take a stand against anyone who downplays your struggles.

The anguish of housewives

We didn’t know we were awaiting a fresh spin on the typical ‘saas-bahu’ dynamics until Noor Jahan graced the small screen. Aside from showing how even a self-reliant matriarch can prove harmful for daughters-in-law, the series also went to great lengths in highlighting the individual plights of each woman.

This drama serial is one that focuses on family dynamics influenced by generational trauma, asserting that even a once-wronged individual can grow into a controlling elder in an act to regain power. More than anything, it portrays inner battles better than those between different parties.

Safina, the pragmatist, confronts her frustrations in the mirror of her bathroom, retaliating in bursts yet keeping herself composed. Sumbul, the people-pleaser, succumbs to her circumstances with a smile, swallowing her anxiety until she realises it’s getting her nowhere. And Noor Bano, the outlier, faces her struggles head on, inevitably becoming the mirror her mother-in-law desperately needs to see.

The best part? The bahus don’t weaponise these shared difficulties against each other, rather they use them as a reason to build a circle of trust and safety amongst themselves. Almost like a therapy group. Even as obstacles threaten to separate them, such as Sumbul’s forced defiance in an eagerness to please the matriarch, her repentance earns her their kindness once more.

It is their understanding that their enemy is not one or the other but the system itself that makes this serial a therapeutic watch. The flaws are believable, such as Sumbul’s ambition to get ahead, because they come from a place of vulnerability. They’re not comically malicious. They’re only human, only women who are trying to make the best of their suffocating isolation and silent cries.

Even the eponymous Noor Jahan, who is driven by her cruel nature, is a timeless lesson. She stands as a cautionary tale for parents and in-laws who misuse their elderly status, citing it as a reason to manipulate their loved ones. Ultimately, this is a story about generational trauma. The vicious cycle doesn’t stop until one’s fire for vengeance is doused.

Violence clouds the mind

Another drama serial that made strides this year for its handling of dire topics was Jafaa, which portrayed mental issues with a strong grounding in reality while also maintaining grace. It exemplifies just how mind-numbing abuse can be and what keeps even the smartest of victims lodged in this quicksand.