Indian soap operas in Pakistan

Indian soap operas are extremely popular in Pakistan and Indian entertainment channels are widely watched, due to the mutual intelligibility between Urdu and Hindi.[1][2] The Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the showing of Indian films and Indian soap operas.[3] The British Broadcasting Corporation has reported that cable television operators in Pakistan often violate the ban and air Indian television serials due the high popularity and demand for these in Pakistan, and Indian television shows make up nearly 60 percent of all foreign programmes broadcast in Pakistan.[4]

In June 2006, Pakistani comedian Rauf Lala participated and won in the comedy television show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge but could not be followed by fellow Pakistanis as the show is not allowed to be aired in Pakistan.[5] An official has commented that "Bollywood [and Indian television soaps] have invaded our homes".[6]

Indian television shows have contributed heavily to the Sanskritisation of Urdu in Pakistan, and it has been reported that many Hindi words such as namaste (नमस्ते), maharani (महारानी) and chinta (चिंता), which have been an inherent part of sanskritized Hindi, have entered standard usage in Pakisan due to the influence of these soaps and Bollywood movies.[7]

The viewing of Indian soaps has become so popular that mainstream newspapers such as the Pakistan Tribune often have feature articles on the shows.[8] Since satellite connections offer uninterrupted coverage of Indian shows, many people have bought these to watch the programmes.[9]

Anti-Indian sentiment is reported in Pakistan and the two countries have fought four wars. However, the impact of Indian soap operas and Bollywood have resulted in an increase in how "favourably an ordinary Pakistani views [India and] Indians."[10] Certain Indian tourists to Pakistan have said that people are particularly friendly if one is from India.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Pakistani women love India’s ‘saas-bahu’ sagas – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Indian TV Channels Banned in Pakistan". Pakistan Defence. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Pakistan allows Indian TV shows". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Pakistani comic's Indian joy". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "BBC NEWS - Entertainment - Pakistan confirms Bollywood ban". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "For many Pakistanis, India already MFN". Pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "10 things I hate about Indian soaps". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Rob Crilly in Islamabad (3 October 2010). "Pakistanis snap up Satellite dishes for Indian soaps". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑