With one of the most loved serials on Zee TV's Zindagi channel, 'Aunn Zara' coming to an end, we spoke to the show's director Haissam Hussain to gain some insight into stories that resonate with people across both sides of the border.
In the late 1980s, Indian audiences had to queue up outside video libraries to get their hands on Pakistani TV shows – Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyaan and the play Bakra Qishton Pe. Sometimes they had to wait for weeks to get hold of a copy. Now about three decades later, when Zee started its new channel Zindagi to showcase Pakistani TV shows, the Indian audience has found an instant connect with all the shows. Did you expect this kind of response to your show 'Aunn Zara'?
I knew people would enjoy the dynamics of a marriage between a modern, strong young woman and a pampered young man. Marriage is a big topic in our part of the world, however we often stereotype it. Different families have different attitudes and reactions towards it. Love grows in funny ways and I knew people in India also face similar issues as us as far as family and marriage is concerned. It is a dynamic and changing force in both our societies.
The shows not only entertain, but give a new perspective about the culture and people of Pakistan. Does 'Aunn Zara' reflect the evolving culture and people in the country?
Pakistan has all kinds of people; it's full of strong and highly vocal women but this often gets stereotyped in foreign media. This show isn't even an iota of all the wonderful changes Pakistan's society has been seeing over the years in all spheres of life. Hand in hand with our tragedies and difficulties, there has always been the part of us that is growing, changing, and pushing the boundaries. We always like to have a good laugh and the good thing is we have the strength to laugh at ourselves first. So yes of course 'Aunn Zara' is a depiction of what could be a real life situation in Pakistan.
The show has received a great response in India. What was the response to the show when it was aired in Pakistan?
It received a great response, Shukar Alhamdolillah (smiles)
The audience in Pakistan gets to see Indian TV shows and movies, but Indian audiences are not so lucky. Other than Zee’s initiative, what according to you should be done to ensure that people in India have access to Pakistan's body of work?
India and Pakistan share many common sensibilities culturally. Pakistanis have a very open-minded and creative approach to their work in television and are heavily talented. The themes range from rural to urban issues, economics, gender issues and romance, but all of it is highly relatable to people on both sides of the border. The same is true for Indian cinema. Family, religion, economics, music, politics, even the weather plays the same role in our societies. The effect of modern day culture and westernisation and the dichotomy between traditional and modern is also growing in the same way. We tell the same stories, we should hear each other out and watch them, exchange ideas and talent and be allowed to do so freely.
What are your views on Indian television shows and movies?
Ramesh Sippy's Gaatha was brilliant. I remember my mom and me used to be glued to the TV screen every time a new episode came on air. But having said that, I am not a big fan of the soaps. I am a die- hard fan of Indian cinema. It's a fantastic industry. Pakistan’s movie industry is a fledgling industry compared to India’s but it is a very exciting period of growth nowadays.
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