There was a time when Pakistani dramas had heart, a lot of it. They were slice-of-life stories, the kind that made you laugh with your whole family and sometimes even made you tear up a little. Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but those dramas had a magic that is hard to find now.
Now, we’re stuck in a loop. Most dramas are about a hot-headed guy with anger issues and a quiet, helpless girl he ends up “falling in love” with after slapping her mid-argument. You know the scene. She stumbles back, lands on a bed dramatically, and we’re supposed to root for this romance. This template is, for the lack of a better word, slapped onto every channel.
Of course, it’s easy to blame writers or producers, but the truth is we keep watching. It seems we have an appetite for these tropes. If you think about it, why would they be made if an audience was not tuning in?
But let’s take a break from all that toxic romance and go back to a time when comedy dramas gave us something different. Colorful characters. Silly situations. And most importantly, they made us laugh.
Here are six iconic comedy dramas that remind us of what we’re missing:
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Annie Ki Ayegi Baraat (2012)
Part of the wildly popular “Baraat Series,” this drama followed Annie, a London-returned girl, navigating her desi family’s chaotic wedding preparations. And who can forget Bushra Ansari’s magnum opus, Saima Chaudhry, who made this series what it is with her hilarious one-liners.
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Bulbulay (2009)
Pure chaos, in the best way. The dysfunctional family of Momo, Mehmood Sahab, Nabeel and Khubsoorat live in a world where nothing makes sense, but it’s always funny. There is a reason this slapstick comedy is the longest-running Pakistani sitcom.
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Akbari Asghari (2011)
Before Fawad Khan became the full-package hero, he was Asghar. Loosely based on a classic Urdu novel, the show follows two sisters in arranged marriages to two very different cousins. The East-meets-West clash and sharp performances made it a comedy that felt fresh.
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Ankahi (1982)
Written by Haeesina Moin, this classic follows Sana, a quirky, ambitious woman trying to make it in the corporate world. The awkward charm, hysterical office dynamics, and iconic lines like “Kya aap waqai mein sanjeeda hain?” made it an unforgettable gem.
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Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah (2012)
A cult classic that still goes viral every Ramazan, thanks to unforgettable characters like Wadood and Rooh Afza. It mixed absurd comedy with sharp social commentary and let’s be honest, we might never see a drama like this again. Women playing poker, men in makeup and sarees, it was way ahead of its time.
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Guest House (1991)
Set in an Islamabad guest house run by the lovable Mr and Mrs Shameem, this sitcom gave us endless laughs with quirky guests and even quirkier staff, especially Jan Rambo. It’s proof that we need to bring back proper Pakistani sitcoms.
Let’s make room for more stories that bring us joy, not all drama needs drama.
