Culture, Content and Change | Duraid Qureshi | TEDxRMI

Quick Overview

Duraid Qureshi argues that Pakistani media, particularly television channels like PTV, Sony, Star Plus, ARY, and Hum TV, successfully nurtured a national culture and storytelling format that resonated across the country, contrasting this organic growth with the current state where Indian media narratives are heavily influencing local content consumption.

Key Points: The speaker, Duraid Qureshi, discusses the historical role of Pakistani media in defining national culture and storytelling, contrasting it with the current influence of Indian media. PTV, along with private channels like Sony, Star Plus, ARY, and Hum TV, were crucial in establishing a narrative format understood by 90% of Pakistan's population by the 1990s and 2000s. The success of Pakistani dramas and storytelling, exemplified by the show 'Udari' addressing child abuse, demonstrated the medium's power to resonate deeply with local realities. Qureshi cites the rise of Indian media influence, noting that after 1990, Indian channels began taking over the Pakistani media landscape, often copying Bollywood's narrative style. He suggests that Pakistan does not need to redefine its culture but rather needs to let its stories flow organically, trusting that Pakistani narratives are closer to local life than imported content. The speaker highlights that Pakistani content, unlike some imported entertainment, often featured themes relatable to local life, such as the depiction of social issues like alcohol use in the drama 'Udari'.

Context: Duraid Qureshi delivers this TEDxRMI talk focusing on the evolution and current state of Pakistani media culture, specifically the impact of television dramas and news content. He traces a path from the early dominance of state television (PTV) and emerging private channels in defining national narratives to the current challenge posed by the pervasive influence of Indian media and Bollywood storytelling formats across the region.

Detailed Analysis

Duraid Qureshi begins by stating that the topic assigned to him—culture—is difficult, but he immediately pivots to discussing the culture of Pakistan, emphasizing the shared values and beliefs that Pakistanis understand. He recalls that after Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the media landscape was dominated by PTV, which was later joined by private channels like Sony, Star Plus, ARY, and Hum TV starting in the 1990s and 2000s. These platforms were highly successful, creating a widely understood narrative style across the country, reaching 90% of the population. He highlights the positive impact of Pakistani dramas, citing 'Udari,' a drama about child abuse, as an example of content that resonated deeply. Qureshi then contrasts this with the current situation, where the influx of Indian media, particularly Bollywood content, has begun to dominate. He notes that Indian media, including channels like Zee and Star Plus, took the lead in storytelling after 1990, often copying Bollywood's format. Qureshi argues that Pakistan does not need to redefine its culture but should allow its stories to flow naturally, as local narratives are closer to the reality of Pakistani life. He concludes by stating that they implemented a policy during their traffic campaigns to ensure that every car shown had its occupants wearing seatbelts, and even in dramas depicting villains drinking alcohol, they ensured the character wore a seatbelt if driving, demonstrating a commitment to positive social messaging through their content, which has been very well received.