A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO DRAMAS WRITTEN BY UMERA AHMED: “ZINDAGI GULZAR HAI” AND “KANKAR”

Abstract

This research paper conducts a detailed comparative study of two famous Pakistani TV dramas, "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" and "Kankar." In recent years, the Pakistani drama industry has earned a lot of recognition not just within the country but also worldwide by targeting an audience that can relate to the convincing storylines and get reality checks about Pakistani cultural and societal norms. The study shows various aspects of these dramas, like the message they want to convey, their storylines, themes, characters, dialogues, self-improvement, and transformation of the characters. Additionally, it investigates how women in both dramas face challenging lives under the constant pressure of meeting societal expectations and transforming their personalities for the better. Both dramas are related to women's empowerment and their character development. On the other hand, it also highlights the male-dominated society in which women are considered inferior and are often abused physically or mentally by their toxic partners. It also portrays the effects of toxic masculinity on female protagonists. Furthermore, this study shows how these dramas impact their audience, especially encouraging women to take a stand for themselves, and how these dramas have played a role in important discussions about gender equality, women's empowerment, toxic masculinity, and family dynamics in Pakistani culture.