Pakistan may just be ready for its original web series

Will film-makers Jami Mahmood, Wajahat Rauf’s plans be a step in the right direction?

KARACHI: It's no surprise that web series have now become one of the main sources of entertainment for audiences across the globe. The concept has gained momentum in the past decade with many film-makers and A-list celebrities venturing into the medium.

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Earlier websites such as Hulu, streamed films and TV series but the ads displayed would often annoy viewers. It wasn't until Netflix launched its ad-free original production in 2012 that paved way for more people to bring their content to the fore. In 2018, Netflix Originals – content produced by the streaming giant itself – had over 100 web series and films under its name. Some of the most successful ones include House of Cards, Stranger Things, Narcos, The Crown and Black Mirror which later went on to earn several accolades including Emmy and BAFTA awards.

PHOTO: SLASH FILMS

Likewise, entertainment industries in Spain, Finland and India have also ventured into producing with Netflix. Sacred Games starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan managed to capture viewers' attention and is now considered to be one of the best Netflix Originals produced from the country. But why hasn't Pakistan picked up on creating a web series for Netflix?

While films such as Chalay Thay Saath and Janaan and hit TV shows like Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai now available on Netflix for international viewers, the streaming giant still lacks original content from the country. Since our local entertainment industry has just picked up pace, does it mean that the audience or film-makers are not ready to take the plunge into web series yet?

PHOTO: ALI EXPRESS

Film-maker Jami Mahmood of Moor fame told The Express Tribune that it's very important for Pakistan to now turn to web series. He said, "Stories like Black Mirror or Sacred Games cannot be played in cinemas. It has nudity, it touches up on religious issues and has a lot of inappropriate language, which can be a problem for the censor board." He feels that Netflix is now the future because unlike films, one can delve deep into storytelling with web series. Jami explained, "In order to make a good web series, you need a professional writer who can handle the content.  I'm not sure if we have any such writer in Pakistan because I haven't come across any."



PHOTO: FILE

Jami also discussed that there are many stories about Pakistan that can be told through web series. "You have Sindh's folk tales and political stories which can be like Pakistan's version of House of Cards or Rajneeti," he added. The 46-year-old director shared that one only needs a good script and a proper budget in place to approach Netflix after which they finance the original series or the film. Speaking of his future plans, Jami revealed, "I'm working on something with Netflix right now but I can't reveal any details yet." It seems like we might have a Pakistani Netflix Original soon!

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/WAJAHAT RAUF

But Jami is not the only film-maker venturing into web series. Karachi Se Lahore director Wajahat Rauf disclosed his plans as well. He stated that unlike TV, web does not limit a creator to the same kind of plots. He added that the stakes of return on investment are not as high as cinema either so you are open to writing anything under the sun. Since no such "approval" committees are involved in the process Wajahat chucked that it was like an artist's dream come true.

He continued, "Hence I've branched out with it and will be shooting my first web series with Mehwish Hayat as the lead. You will find audience anywhere as long as you make engaging content and you know how much is consumed on the web. So if the intention is to make your content accessible to the maximum number of people, no other platform is better than the web." However, Wajahat did not disclose if his web series will be aired on Netflix or another medium.

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