‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’: The debate rages on

Just when we thought that the matter of Diriliş: Ertuğrul being aired on national television was settled, it sparks up again. And this time, it is not just the actors who are debating, it is members of the government including Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Senator Faisal Javed Khan.

Read more – Yasir Hussain vs Turkish dramas: the debate heats up

The debate started Fawad Chaudhry commented that he was “surprised” that PTV is taking pride in other countries’ productions and urged the state-owned channel to focus on Pakistani productions.

Surprised on @PTVHomeOfficial taking pride on other countries productions,you guys must focus on Pak productions otherwise foreign dramas ll ruin Pak productions,its always cheap to import foreign dramas but this ll have devastating long term effect on our own programming

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 31, 2020

When a follower reminded the minister that he had earlier praised the drama series, Chaudhry clarified that he does not have anything against the drama and thinks it is brilliant. Instead, his stance is that foreign dramas must be taxed so that TV channels do not import them in large numbers and negatively affect the local drama industry.

ارطغرل زبردست ڈرامہ ہے میری Tweet میں ارطغرل کا معاملہ ہی نہیں، میری پوزیشن ہمیشہ یہ رہی ہے کہ آپ غیرملکی ڈرامہ چلائیں لیکن اس پر اتنا ٹیکس ضرور ہو کہ ہمارا مقامی ڈرامہ متاثر نہ ہو اگر تمام ٹیوی باہر سے سستے ڈرامے خرید لیں گے تو ہماری تو پوری انڈسٹری بیٹھ جائیگی https://t.co/mDJ1ldGoEA

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 31, 2020

Following Fawad’s tweet, Senator Faisal Javed Khan explained that “great productions like Ertuğrul will help our industry,” adding that such exchange of content should be bilateral. He further said that the local drama industry needs to work on its substance and content.

1/3 Such great productions like Ertugrul @DirilisDizisi
will help our industry. We shld show some amazing work that has already been produced – Presenting Islamic History, Culture, Faith. Also this should be bilateral – exporting our content abroad. It's a win win trade. Cont.. https://t.co/6sZf4vM2Hi

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020

….3/3 Awwww wish we had reacted when rubbish Indian content (low standard dramas, films, songs) was aired across our tv channels, cinema & radio. Our own people promoted "Games of Thrones" here. Why shld we object Ertugrul type content. Even PTV used to air Good English film

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020

Read more – PTV asked to speed up dubbing process of ‘Ertuğrul’

Soon enough, actors including Ahmed Ali Butt and Vasay Chaudhry stepped in to share their thoughts on the debate. While Butt said that the television industry doesn’t mind foreign content and only wants the government to assist them in production, Fakhr-e-Alam agreed with Fawad’s point of view.

Thank you @fawadchaudhry for boldly stating something the brutal truth. PTV output compared to its cost of running operations makes absolutely NO sense what so ever. This organization must realize it is already obsolete. Govt must not burden tax payer with it. https://t.co/xwZhDCTFNu

— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) May 31, 2020

Meanwhile, Vasay reminded Khan that the industry had protested against Indian content in the past, adding that the issue is not with the play itself but is instead with “PTV and the laws related to the entertainment business”. Chaudhry urged the lawmaker to resolve the issues regarding the laws which Khan agreed with.

1/1 Just for the record Faisal Sb, we protested against indian dramas always, since the last 10 years or more.Back then twitter or social media n all wasnt that influential but that doesnt mean that the Protest or reactions never happened.

— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) May 31, 2020

Yes Dear Brother! First we need to being the audience back on PTV as people had forgotten this channel due to poor content & quality. Substance, Content, Quality get you audience. Like all other institutions Our predecessors ruined PTV as well. PTV must revive itself now.

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 31, 2020

? https://t.co/lOqcdAoxX8

— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) May 31, 2020

Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired on the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on the first of Ramzan. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 4.75 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.

In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.