Classic TV serials Dhoop Kinare, Taanhaiyaan to be aired in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH - Pakistan's state television has stated that country's most popular drama series Dhoop Kinare and Tanhaiyaan will be aired in Saudi Arabia later this year, more than 30 years after these dramas were first broadcast in Pakistan.

Dhoop Kinare, a 1987 drama that became one of the networks most popular television series ever, is set to be aired with Arabic subtitles in the Kingdom in June, a top PTV official told Arab News on Wednesday (yesterday).

Tanhaiyan, a 27-year-old serial of PTV. The drama serial was directed by the legendary Shahzad Khalil and was written by the famous drama writer Haseena Moin. Tanhaiyan featured an ensemble star cast of veterans such as Shehnaz Sheikh, Marina Khan, Badar Khalil, Azra Sherwani, Asif Raza Mir, Behroze Sabzwari, Qazi Wajid, Jamshed Ansari, Yasmeen Ismail, Durdana Butt, Mohammad Yousaf, Sultana Zafar, Subhani Bayounus and Imtiaz Ali

These classic shows will be one of two television series to be broadcast in the Muslim Kingdom.

"We have selected two very popular dramas, Dhoop Kinare (Sunlight's Edge) and Tanhaiyaan (Loneliness), for Arabic subtitles," said Shahzia Sikander, Director of International Relations at PTV.

"We will be able to send Dhoop Kinare to Saudi Arabia by June this year."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYufDSkMJY

Written and directed by Haseena Moin and Sahira Kazmi— two of the most acclaimed women in the Pakistani television industry—Dhoop Kinarey is still considered by many as one of the best Pakistani dramas of all time.

The fast-paced drama, which followed the story of two doctors working together at a Karachi hospital, led its main actors Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi to become household names and a favourite on-screen couple in Pakistan.

"This is the first time that Pakistan Television is subtitling Pakistani drama into Arabic for Saudi viewers," added Sikander, saying the move would not only be a source of revenue but would also bring recognition for local television series and actors and help Saudi nationals understand Pakistani culture.

The news comes after federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.

Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernise the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.