Dastaan (drama)
Encyclopedia
Dastaan is a Pakistani
drama serial dramatized by Samira Fazal, and based on the novel "Bano", by Razia Butt. It is based on the Partition of India
(and the eventual creation of Pakistan), and takes place between 1947 and 1956. The drama depicts the story of Bano, a girl from a close knit Muslim
family living in Ludhiana (located in the state of Punjab
) in the pre-1947 era. The story follows Bano and her fianceè, Hassan, as they face the trials and tribulations caused by the 1947 partition
.
Dastaan is the first project of its kind taken up by the Pakistani media
. Director Haissam Hussain
stated in an interview that production for the drama began months in advance, and that the filming itself only took a little over 2 months. The show was broadcast on Hum TV
.
), Hassan's aunt and Bano's soon-to-be sister-in-law. She is engaged to Saleem (Ahsan Khan
), Bano's eldest brother. Hassan (Fawad Khan) and Bano (Sanam Baloch
) had not seen each other since they were children, and had no relationship whatsoever prior to Suraiya and Saleem's wedding. They slowly begin to develop feelings for each other, with Hassan visiting Ludhiana every now and then. Hassan is a final year engineering student at the Islamia College. He is an active supporter of the All-India Muslim League, and the leader of the Ludhiana Branch. He strongly believes in the establishment of Pakistan, and is an avid follower of Qaid-E-Azam
, leader of the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement
. Meanwhile, Bano's brother and Suraiya's husband, Saleem, is an active supporter of the Indian Congress
, what with all his friends being Hindu
, and believes that the establishment of Pakistan will not help, but rather lessen the position of Muslims in India. The political debate between Saleem and Hassan begins as friendly competition, but intensifies as conditions worsen throughout India for Muslims. Saleem, hot-tempered and rash, begins to bring political debates into family life, and eventually forbids Suraiya to visit Hassan or his mother Rasheeda, her only sister. But Hassan is not dissuaded. He continues to spread the message of Pakistan throughout Saleem's family, causing Saleem's anger to explode on many occasions.
Hassan and Bano eventually become engaged, and Saleem decides to leave behind his rivalry with Hassan for Bano's sake. Soon, Hassan gets a job in Rawalpindi
and has to leave immediately. He and Rasheeda leave Ludhiana, with the promise that they will be back 5 months later for the wedding.
During this time tensions between Hindus and Muslims rise, violence outbreaks all throughout India. Hate crimes against Muslims become common, and the fighting spreads all across India states, getting threateningly closer to Ludhiana every day. As the fighting becomes more pronounced, Muslims retaliate, leaving nobody safe. A rift begins to form between Saleem and his friends, and soon the entire family has to be locked in their home, unable to go out into the dangerous streets for fear of being killed or, in the women's case, losing their virtue
.
On a fateful night, a group of Sikhs and Hindus attack the family's home, and Saleem and all men of the family are brutally murdered in a terrible massacre
. The men and elder women of the home are killed, and the younger ones are either murdered or are carried away, presumably to be raped before killed.
Bano survives this ordeal and travels throughout India on her quest to reach Pakistan. She comes across a Sikh man (Bilal Khan
) who helps nurse her back to health after her first rape and the death of her mother. She also comes across Basant Singh (Babrik Shah), a Sikh man, and his mother (Sangeeta
) who kidnap her from the train she is taking to Lahore
, and keep her in their home for 5 years. At first, Bano refuses to even tell Basant Singh her name, saying instead that he "doesn't deserve to say" her name. Basanta names her Sundar Kaur
, or "beautiful princess," in Punjabi
. He tells Bano that he will take her to Pakistan one day. Bano, mentally exhausted and with no options left, believes him. Nearly a year later, Basanta has not lived up to his promise, claiming that the roadways are still blocked and that traveling to Pakistan is too dangerous of a venture. Bano soon learns of his plan to convert her to Sikhism
and marry her, and attempts to run away again. This time though, when Basanta catches her, he doesn't treat her gently as with the first time. He tries whatever method he can to break her; beating her, raping her, forcing her to become a Sikhni
(in vain), marrying her, and in the end, having her give birth to his child.
After many years, Bano manages to escape and finally make it to her beloved and Pakistan and back to Hassan, but her worries don't end here as she sees how radically different Pakistan is to the dreams she had seen about it.
, and changes locations every couple of episodes as the story corresponds. Other locations include Karachi
, Pakistan
, Lahore
and Patiala, India
. Notable locations include the Islamia College and the famous Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, as well as the Pakistan Railways
Station.
and sung
by Sohail Haider, who also composed the theme to fellow Hum TV
production, Parsa (drama)
, and was written by Sahir Altaf. A frequent background music on the show, played during scenes asserting Pakistani independence
or Pakistani pride is based after the tune of Aye Watan Pyare Watan by Ustad Amanat Ali Khan.
, Dastaan was rated as the 2nd best drama of 2010, after Dolly ki Ayegi Baraat, and Sanam Baloch
was voted best actress for Dastaan, with Mehreen Raheel
in 3rd place, while Samira Fazal was voted 3rd best writer, also for Dastaan. Senior actresss Badar Khalil named Dastaan as her favorite drama for 2010.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
drama serial dramatized by Samira Fazal, and based on the novel "Bano", by Razia Butt. It is based on the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
(and the eventual creation of Pakistan), and takes place between 1947 and 1956. The drama depicts the story of Bano, a girl from a close knit Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
family living in Ludhiana (located in the state of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
) in the pre-1947 era. The story follows Bano and her fianceè, Hassan, as they face the trials and tribulations caused by the 1947 partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
.
Dastaan is the first project of its kind taken up by the Pakistani media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
. Director Haissam Hussain
Haissam Hussain
Haissam Hussain is a noted Pakistani director. He is best known for his drama serial Noor Pur Ki Rani, and the blockbuster Dastaan.-Personal life:...
stated in an interview that production for the drama began months in advance, and that the filming itself only took a little over 2 months. The show was broadcast on Hum TV
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Pakistani entertainment TV channel based in Karachi. It is the first brand of Eye Television Network Limited, Pakistan. Hum TV began its transmission on January 17, 2005.-Serials:* Manay Na Ye Dil * Akhri Barish...
.
Plot
Based on the novel "Bano", Dastaan begins with the wedding of Suraiya (Saba QamarSaba Qamar
Sabahat Qamar, better known as Saba Qamar, is a Pakistani model and actress from Gujranwala.went to Superior Science College Gujranwala. She has appeared in a variety of television dramas, as well as advertisements...
), Hassan's aunt and Bano's soon-to-be sister-in-law. She is engaged to Saleem (Ahsan Khan
Ahsan Khan
Ahsan Mohomed Khan was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 he was a member of the Indian field hockey team, which won the gold medal. He played one match as a halfback....
), Bano's eldest brother. Hassan (Fawad Khan) and Bano (Sanam Baloch
Sanam Baloch
Sanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television host. Sanam was born in Karachi and started her career as a talk show anchor in the Sindhi language television channel KTN. Sanam hosted two shows Sanam Ji Pasand and Diyoo on KTN. Sanam made her debut on Urdu television in Fahad Mustafa's long...
) had not seen each other since they were children, and had no relationship whatsoever prior to Suraiya and Saleem's wedding. They slowly begin to develop feelings for each other, with Hassan visiting Ludhiana every now and then. Hassan is a final year engineering student at the Islamia College. He is an active supporter of the All-India Muslim League, and the leader of the Ludhiana Branch. He strongly believes in the establishment of Pakistan, and is an avid follower of Qaid-E-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
, leader of the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
. Meanwhile, Bano's brother and Suraiya's husband, Saleem, is an active supporter of the Indian Congress
Indian Congress
The Indian Congress occurred from August 4 to October 31, 1898 in Omaha, Nebraska, in conjunction with the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition. Occurring within a decade of the end of the Indian Wars, the Indian Congress was the largest gathering of American Indian tribes of its kind to that...
, what with all his friends being Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, and believes that the establishment of Pakistan will not help, but rather lessen the position of Muslims in India. The political debate between Saleem and Hassan begins as friendly competition, but intensifies as conditions worsen throughout India for Muslims. Saleem, hot-tempered and rash, begins to bring political debates into family life, and eventually forbids Suraiya to visit Hassan or his mother Rasheeda, her only sister. But Hassan is not dissuaded. He continues to spread the message of Pakistan throughout Saleem's family, causing Saleem's anger to explode on many occasions.
Hassan and Bano eventually become engaged, and Saleem decides to leave behind his rivalry with Hassan for Bano's sake. Soon, Hassan gets a job in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
and has to leave immediately. He and Rasheeda leave Ludhiana, with the promise that they will be back 5 months later for the wedding.
During this time tensions between Hindus and Muslims rise, violence outbreaks all throughout India. Hate crimes against Muslims become common, and the fighting spreads all across India states, getting threateningly closer to Ludhiana every day. As the fighting becomes more pronounced, Muslims retaliate, leaving nobody safe. A rift begins to form between Saleem and his friends, and soon the entire family has to be locked in their home, unable to go out into the dangerous streets for fear of being killed or, in the women's case, losing their virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
.
On a fateful night, a group of Sikhs and Hindus attack the family's home, and Saleem and all men of the family are brutally murdered in a terrible massacre
Mass murder
Mass murder is the act of murdering a large number of people , typically at the same time or over a relatively short period of time. According to the FBI, mass murder is defined as four or more murders occurring during a particular event with no cooling-off period between the murders...
. The men and elder women of the home are killed, and the younger ones are either murdered or are carried away, presumably to be raped before killed.
Bano survives this ordeal and travels throughout India on her quest to reach Pakistan. She comes across a Sikh man (Bilal Khan
Bilal Khan
Bilal Khan was a Pakistani television actor and model, known famously for some of his lead roles in major Pakistani drama serials. Khan previously acted in numerous Pakistani movies and the ATV serial Pal Bhar Mein...
) who helps nurse her back to health after her first rape and the death of her mother. She also comes across Basant Singh (Babrik Shah), a Sikh man, and his mother (Sangeeta
Sangeeta
Sangeeta is a successful Pakistani film actor and director. Her work includes Society Girl, Tarap and her latest film Gulabo.-Early life:...
) who kidnap her from the train she is taking to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, and keep her in their home for 5 years. At first, Bano refuses to even tell Basant Singh her name, saying instead that he "doesn't deserve to say" her name. Basanta names her Sundar Kaur
Kaur
Kaur in Sikhism is a mandatory middle name for female Sikhs.-History:Kaur is a name used by Sikh women either as the middle name, or as a last name. It cannot be regarded as a true surname or family name...
, or "beautiful princess," in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. He tells Bano that he will take her to Pakistan one day. Bano, mentally exhausted and with no options left, believes him. Nearly a year later, Basanta has not lived up to his promise, claiming that the roadways are still blocked and that traveling to Pakistan is too dangerous of a venture. Bano soon learns of his plan to convert her to Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
and marry her, and attempts to run away again. This time though, when Basanta catches her, he doesn't treat her gently as with the first time. He tries whatever method he can to break her; beating her, raping her, forcing her to become a Sikhni
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
(in vain), marrying her, and in the end, having her give birth to his child.
After many years, Bano manages to escape and finally make it to her beloved and Pakistan and back to Hassan, but her worries don't end here as she sees how radically different Pakistan is to the dreams she had seen about it.
Main Cast
- Sanam BalochSanam BalochSanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television host. Sanam was born in Karachi and started her career as a talk show anchor in the Sindhi language television channel KTN. Sanam hosted two shows Sanam Ji Pasand and Diyoo on KTN. Sanam made her debut on Urdu television in Fahad Mustafa's long...
as BanoBanoBano Naseeb is the protagonist and main character of Razia Butt's novel Bano , and of Hum TV drama Dastaan. She is from the province of Ludhiana. Bano was engaged to neighbor and family friend Hassan, but the two were never married due to partition-induced circumstances...
(Urdu: بانو)
- Fawad Khan as HassanHassan (character)Hassan portrayed by Fawad Khan) is a main character of Razia Butt’s novel Bano, and of Hum TV drama production Dastaan. He is from the province of Ludhiana. Hassan was engaged to neighbor and family friend Bano Naseeb, but the two were never married due to partition-induced circumstances...
(Urdu: حسن)
- Mehreen RaheelMehreen RaheelMehreen Raheel is one of Pakistan's leading models, with dozens of product commercials, cover pages of magazines like Libaas, and many photo shoots of clothes and jewelry to her credit. She is a familiar face to Head & Shoulders and Pantene users, as well as to Lipton tea drinkers, Telenor and...
as Rabia (Urdu: رابیا)
Other Cast and Characters
- Saba QamarSaba QamarSabahat Qamar, better known as Saba Qamar, is a Pakistani model and actress from Gujranwala.went to Superior Science College Gujranwala. She has appeared in a variety of television dramas, as well as advertisements...
as Suraiya
- Ahsan KhanAhsan Khan (actor)Ahsan Khan is a British-born Pakistani actor. His zodiac sign is Libra, born on October 9th. He first began acting in 1998. He appeared in the films Nikaah and Ghar Kab Aao Gay, which both were Platinum Jubilees, and later moved on to television. He has since appeared in many different drama...
as Saleem
- Babrik Shah as Basant Singh
- Saba HameedSaba hameedSaba Hameed , is a renowned and beloved female Pakistani television actress. Saba was born in Lahore.- Family :She has three sisters and one brother. She is the daughter of noted columnist and writer Hamid Akhtar...
as Rasheeda
- Qavi Khan as Naseeb Bhai
- Samina PeerzadaSamina PeerzadaSamina Peerzada is a Pakistani television, film actress, and a director who has appeared in numerous films and television serials.-Early life:...
as Saliha or "Bibi"
- Affan Waheed as Nadir
- Daniyal Raheel as Faheem
- Humaira Abbasi as Kaamini
- Seemi Raheel as Maami
- Anita Fatima Camphor as Jameela
Guest Stars
- Samina Ahmed
- Shazia Afgan
- Khayyam Sarhadi
- Bilal KhanBilal KhanBilal Khan was a Pakistani television actor and model, known famously for some of his lead roles in major Pakistani drama serials. Khan previously acted in numerous Pakistani movies and the ATV serial Pal Bhar Mein...
Locations
The serial takes place at a number of locations. It starts out at a neighborhood of Ludhiana, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and changes locations every couple of episodes as the story corresponds. Other locations include Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and Patiala, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Notable locations include the Islamia College and the famous Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, as well as the Pakistan Railways
Pakistan Railways
This article is about the rail company in Pakistan. For technical details and operations see: Transport in Pakistan.Pakistan Railways is a national state-owned rail transport service of Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore. It is administered by the federal government under the Ministry of Railways....
Station.
Soundtrack
The Dastaan theme "Aasmanon Se" was composedComposer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and sung
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
by Sohail Haider, who also composed the theme to fellow Hum TV
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Pakistani entertainment TV channel based in Karachi. It is the first brand of Eye Television Network Limited, Pakistan. Hum TV began its transmission on January 17, 2005.-Serials:* Manay Na Ye Dil * Akhri Barish...
production, Parsa (drama)
Parsa (drama)
Parsa is a Pakistani drama serial dramatized by Tahira Wasti, and is based on the novel of the same name "Parsa", by Bushra Rehman. It explores the permissibility of inter-faith marriages, and cultural and societal issues regarding the topic...
, and was written by Sahir Altaf. A frequent background music on the show, played during scenes asserting Pakistani independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
or Pakistani pride is based after the tune of Aye Watan Pyare Watan by Ustad Amanat Ali Khan.
Reception
Dastaan was so widely appreciated that the producers were required to add a 3 hour special, entitled the "Best of Dastaan" to the series running. In a poll by Dawn NewsDawn News
Dawn News was Pakistan's 24-hour Urdu news channel. Based in Karachi, the station is a subsidiary of Pakistan Herald Publications Limited , Pakistan's largest English-language media group. The test transmission of the station occurred on May 25, 2007, and the channel went live on July 23, 2007...
, Dastaan was rated as the 2nd best drama of 2010, after Dolly ki Ayegi Baraat, and Sanam Baloch
Sanam Baloch
Sanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television host. Sanam was born in Karachi and started her career as a talk show anchor in the Sindhi language television channel KTN. Sanam hosted two shows Sanam Ji Pasand and Diyoo on KTN. Sanam made her debut on Urdu television in Fahad Mustafa's long...
was voted best actress for Dastaan, with Mehreen Raheel
Mehreen Raheel
Mehreen Raheel is one of Pakistan's leading models, with dozens of product commercials, cover pages of magazines like Libaas, and many photo shoots of clothes and jewelry to her credit. She is a familiar face to Head & Shoulders and Pantene users, as well as to Lipton tea drinkers, Telenor and...
in 3rd place, while Samira Fazal was voted 3rd best writer, also for Dastaan. Senior actresss Badar Khalil named Dastaan as her favorite drama for 2010.
Awards and Nominations
| Award | Category/Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Annual Pakistan Media Awards | Best Drama | |
| Haissam Hussain Haissam Hussain Haissam Hussain is a noted Pakistani director. He is best known for his drama serial Noor Pur Ki Rani, and the blockbuster Dastaan.-Personal life:... for Best Drama Director |
||
| Sanam Baloch Sanam Baloch Sanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television host. Sanam was born in Karachi and started her career as a talk show anchor in the Sindhi language television channel KTN. Sanam hosted two shows Sanam Ji Pasand and Diyoo on KTN. Sanam made her debut on Urdu television in Fahad Mustafa's long... for Best Actress |
||
| Fawad Khan for Best TV Actor | ||
| Saba Qamar Saba Qamar Sabahat Qamar, better known as Saba Qamar, is a Pakistani model and actress from Gujranwala.went to Superior Science College Gujranwala. She has appeared in a variety of television dramas, as well as advertisements... for Best Supporting Actress |
||
| Ahsan Khan Ahsan Khan (actor) Ahsan Khan is a British-born Pakistani actor. His zodiac sign is Libra, born on October 9th. He first began acting in 1998. He appeared in the films Nikaah and Ghar Kab Aao Gay, which both were Platinum Jubilees, and later moved on to television. He has since appeared in many different drama... for Best Supporting Actor |
||
| 10th Annual Lux Style Awards | Best TV Serial (Satellite) | |
| Fawad Khan for Best TV Actor (Satellite) | ||
| Sanam Baloch Sanam Baloch Sanam Baloch is a Pakistani actress and television host. Sanam was born in Karachi and started her career as a talk show anchor in the Sindhi language television channel KTN. Sanam hosted two shows Sanam Ji Pasand and Diyoo on KTN. Sanam made her debut on Urdu television in Fahad Mustafa's long... for Best TV Actress (Satellite) |
||
| Haissam Hussain Haissam Hussain Haissam Hussain is a noted Pakistani director. He is best known for his drama serial Noor Pur Ki Rani, and the blockbuster Dastaan.-Personal life:... for Best TV Director |
||