When books birth dramas

Three throwback shows that could not have existed without a novel

Whether it is a cutesy love story playing out across Karachi (Burns Road Kay Romeo Juliet), or an action-packed family feud fuelled by gun-toting hotshots (DunyaPur), the effervescent Pakistani drama scene has something to offer everyone.

And not just TV fans. Book fans, too, are included in this all-encompassing embrace of the television industry. Not all drama scripts are borne out of a national desire to take down meddling mothers-in-law (Noor Jahan, anyone?) Some are born out of books. While the full list of Pakistani dramas that have been adapted from novels is a rich and extensive one, here is a small selection of our favourite shows that would not have existed had someone not taken the trouble the write the book.

'Parizad' (2021)

Starring Ahmed Ali Akbar in the lead role in a cast that included Yumna Zaidi, Naumaan Ijaz and Saboor Ali, Parizaad charts the struggles of a man wanting to be accepted for who he is and not the colour of his skin. Our hero has to make the choice between fulfilling his artistic ambitions and becoming a poet, or taking the well-beaten but boring path of a job with a steady income. Hashim Nadeem published his novel of the same name in 2014 and fashioned it into a screenplay for television to bring the story to a wider audience. Although viewers praised the concept and Akbar's performance as Parizaad, a select few took to online platforms to vent about the rushed conclusion of the plot as the show wound to its conclusion.

'Diyar e Dil' (2015)

This critically acclaimed show featured an ensemble cast featuring young stars Osman Khalid Butt, Maya Ali, Sanam Saeed, and Hareem Farooq. Farhat Ishtiaq wrote both the show and the novella it was based on, Dayar e Dil, published in 2010. With the plot spanning to generations, fans praise the show for its tight-knit plot, cinematography, visuals, and breadth of characters. The show is well-loved by both television fans and book fans, although as is always the way, book fans online urge others to read the novella as well on the simple premise that it is 'even better. As a bonus, this was the show the fuelled the 'Osmaya' ship amongst fans (owing to the sizzling combination of both Osman and Maya sharing the screen), although the two actors have laughed off the rumours and maintain they are nothing more than close friends.

'Humsafar' (2011)

It would be inconceivable to curate a list of Pakistani dramas that spawned from novels without mentioning Humsafar. The show made way for the epic Fawad Khan-Mahira Khan combination that captured the hearts of TV fans, the Pakistani television equivalent of the unforgettable Kate Winslet-Leonardo di Caprio combination of the late nineties. Yet another show being birthed to life by stalwart writer Farhat Ishtiaq, who penned both the script as well as the source novel, Humsafar proved to fans that Fawad was more than just a dreamy singer in a rock band. As with many adaptations, the show deviated from the novel to fit the demands of the small screen. Where the novel is told from the perspective of Hareem, the show focuses on her parents Ashar and Khirad, portrayed by Fawad and Mahira, respectively. With both the novel and the show having the requisite happy ending, fans have been unable to care less about any deviations taken by Farhat. Besides, as the woman who gave us both the book and the show, it would be futile to argue. The writer knows best.