Credits: File Photo

As soon as Pakistan Television (PTV) aired popular historical Turkish drama Dirilis Ertugrul, based on the life of Ertugrul Gazi from  Kay? tribe of Oghuz Turks in 13th century, the step was both applauded and criticized. While it has attracted applaud and compliments from people of all walks for the grandeur - in which it presents the Islamic history or more specifically history of the Ottoman Empire - it also has stirred a debate about the cultural impact and possible effects of showing foreign content on the local industry. With names like Jibran Nasir, Yasir Hussain, and Mansha Pasha voicing their concerns, Dirilis Erygrul is now a hot topic for debate on Twitter.

With debate getting grim and grim on Twitter and in news,  prominent stage and TV actor Osman Khalid Butt, too, has shared his two cents on the issue. After Yasir Hussain's claim that airing of Turkish content on national TV is destroying the local industry, Khalid Butt has offered an opposing view. The latter took to Twitter to share his views:

"Whoa, Ertugrul has really stirred the proverbial pot, hasn't it? It's almost as though there's no precedent of a Turkish show gaining immense popularity in Pakistan before," Actor wrote and added, "Sharing my response to a post that insinuated our jobs are under threat: I don't recall us actors finding ourselves jobless when Ishq-e-Mamnoon or Mera Sultan were all the rage in Pakistan. Nor did Turkish actors 'infiltrate' the local industry & replace us."

Whoa, Ertugrul has really stirred the proverbial pot, hasn't it? It's almost as though there's no precedent of a Turkish show gaining immense popularity in Pakistan before.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 18, 2020

Sharing my response to a post that insinuated our jobs are under threat:

I don't recall us actors finding ourselves jobless when Ishq-e-Mamnoon or Mera Sultan were all the rage in Pakistan. Nor did Turkish actors 'infiltrate' the local industry & replace us. - contd.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 18, 2020

Osman also shared the view that airing of Ertugrul in Urdu dub is creating opportunities for voiceover artists and sound technicians.

"Plus, isn't this creating more job opportunities for local dubbing/VO artists? Also: praising a show like Ertugrul that promotes the importance of religion, culture & customs with nuance doesn't automatically mean one doesn't support the local industry," He shared and further added, "Of course, I'd love it if our national television uses the revenue generated from this series to create our own original content - shows that can rival Ertugrul in [the] narrative if not in scale, and showcase our own historical events."

Plus, isn't this creating more job opportunities for local dubbing/VO artists?
Also: praising a show like Ertugrul that promotes the importance of religion, culture & customs with nuance doesn't automatically mean one doesn't support the local industry. - contd.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 18, 2020

Osman Khalid Butt's response came a day after renowned actor Yasir Hussain claimed that Turkish dramas are destroying the local industry. He shared these views on Instagram:

Hussain's views were defended by Laal Kabootar famed actor Mansha Pasha. Pasha took to Twitter to support her fellow actor saying that, "Those lambasting Yasir Hussain and calling the work in Pakistan "sub-par" seem to have forgotten what it takes to make content here. Even without any subsidy from the govt, even if u manage to gather ur own funds, ur projects can still bet banned or pulled off after clearance."

It seems like this debate isn't going anywhere and will continue as long as Ertugrul is aired on PTV.

This isn't the first time a Turkish series has been aired in Pakistan, in the past private channels have aired Ishq e Mamnoon, Mera Sultan, and few other famous Turkish dramas.