- Turkish teledrama may do more harm than good
The Turkish teledrama Ertugrul: Resurrection is being telecast by PTV, after being dubbed in Urdu, on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is not the first historical Turkish teledrama to be aired by a Pakistani channel, nor is it the first to attract adverse comment from the local industry, but the angst in the comment shows that there is a difference. Whereas about 30 years ago Pakistani teldramas, aired by PTV, which then enjoyed a monopoly over the airwaves it now does not, were of high quality, so much so that they were viewed across the border on recordings, much as Indian films were seen in Pakistan on illicit videos. If the government does want to promote Pakistani teleplays, it could do better than helping Turkish dramas. Rather than historical plays about Turks in Anatolia, what about Turks in the Subcontinent? Ertugrul is very clearly a piece of Turkish nation-building. Are we afraid our own history does not support our nation-building project, that we need to borrow another nation’s?
While it is perhaps too much to expect this present government to be more than hit-or-miss about which nation we want to build, it is appropriate to ask about the process which led to the spending of public money. There is a disturbing lack of transparency over the whole affair, especially about Mr Khan’s own role. PTV might well have hit on the need for a Turkish teledrama so as to follow the trend set by other private channels. Did Mr Khan push this particular play? The facts about payments for telecasting rights, Urdu rights and dubbing costs have not been shared, nor have those about revenue. A genuine commitment to accountability would make these details public property by now. Or is this information more sensitive than that in the sugar shortage enquiry commission?
One cultural aspect that deserves notice is the rabid reaction by some Pakistani viewers, who have been offended, not by the contents of the play, but by some of the posts of its lead actress, Asra Bilgic, on Instagram. The objection is to the way she dresses, which is perhaps not acceptable in Pakistan. However, it is accepted without hesitation in Turkey, and does not deserve the sort of trolling it has been given.
