KARACHI, Pakistan — Ottoman Turks never expanded their empire as far as today’s Pakistan, but some here fear their descendants are now launching a cultural invasion — via popular soap operas that Pakistani artists and politicians say threaten the local TV industry and the country’s conservative Islamic values. Some of the Turkish shows feature actresses wearing miniskirts and showing cleavage, a far cry from the billowing shalwar kameez garments worn by most Pakistani women that hardly reveal skin. Britains Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, right, sings with US singers Taylor Swift, left, and Jon Bon Jovi at the Centrepoint Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace in London, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2013. Centrepoint is a charity supporting homeless young people aged 16-25 and the Duke is patron of the organisation. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski, Pool) Photos of the day Kensington Palace charity dinner, Dame Edna, Central African Republic, a “horse whisperer” and more. Tuesdays photos of the day Latest stories from Foreign China’s new air defense zone unites its neighbors, U.S. Simon Denyer 7:01 PM ET Washington gets an opportunity to reassure U.S. allies about its commitment to Asia-Pacific security. Drug gang wars tarnish image of Indian beach destination Drug gang wars tarnish image of Indian beach destination Rama Lakshmi 1:00 PM ET The sun-seekers’ haven of Goa has become a hub for drug traffickers and recreational users, police say. Irans Rouhani delivers optimistic 100-day progress report Irans Rouhani delivers optimistic 100-day progress report Jason Rezaian NOV 26 The nuclear deal struck Sunday caps a string of early successes claimed by Iran’s new president. Leakers and privacy advocates find new home in Berlin Leakers and privacy advocates find new home in Berlin Michael Birnbaum NOV 26 A growing number of U.S. and British transplants say Germany’s once-divided capital is safer than home. Central African Republic descending into ‘complete chaos’ Central African Republic descending into ‘complete chaos’ 1:03 AM ET Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes. How did this crisis start, and is it a genocide in the making? Click here to subscribe. The shows, which have taken Pakistan by storm over the last year, are attractive to local TV operators because they are much cheaper to buy than Pakistani dramas are to produce, and also feature more elaborate costumes and sets. “It is a big challenge,” said Abid Ali, a veteran Pakistani TV star, while filming his latest show, Mere Apne, or My Loved Ones, in the southern city of Karachi. “Turkish shows have very expensive productions our industry can’t afford.” The spartan set of Ali’s show, which chronicles the sad life of a young girl after her parents die, helped prove his point. The entire episode was filmed in the living room and driveway of a small rented house in an upscale area of Karachi. The actresses used the only bedroom on the ground floor to apply their makeup, and the kids who lived in the house were scolded for making too much noise while they were filming. Since there was only one camera, they had to shoot each scene three times from different angles. One of the most popular Turkish shows in Pakistan right now is Mera Sultan, or My Sultan, a period drama about the powerful Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. The show is no Game of Thrones, but it does feature ornate Ottoman-style sets, scenes with horses and archery and beautifully designed costumes. “There are multiple reasons behind the success of Turkish drama serials,” said Athar Waqar Azeem, a senior vice president at Hum TV, one of Pakistan’s leading entertainment channels. “Freshness, better and beautiful locations and new faces attract Pakistanis.” One episode of a Turkish drama costs a Pakistani TV station about $2,500 to broadcast, while the production of a Pakistani show can be four times that amount, Azeem said. The popularity of the Turkish shows has sparked concern from Pakistani politicians. The Senate committee responsible for information and broadcasting said at the end of last year that it was worried the shows would harm Pakistan’s TV industry and featured content that ran counter to local cultural norms. Pakistani TV star Javeria Abbasi, who co-stars with Ali in Mere Apne, agreed, saying “if a Pakistani actress wears a miniskirt, nobody accepts it, but Turkish actresses are
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 22:28:06 +0000
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