fifty-fifty

Fifty Fifty DVD cover

Fifty Fifty (Urdu script: ففٹی ففٹی) was a popular Pakistan television series which was aired on the national television PTV during the early 1980s. The programme was a sketch comedy considered by many critics as one of the best television shows to be produced in Pakistan. Along with Nazia Hassan, Fifty Fifty was one of the pop-culture phenomena of the 1980s in South Asia.

The content of the show is based on satire and parody with some healthy doses of slapstick comedy. It is widely considered to be a trendsetter in its genre. One important aspect that may be noted that the content was very ethnically balanced and was written on purpose to make sure that different Pakistani communities are with respected. Although sometimes a mockery of a certain ethnic group was made, similar to prudes or red necks in American comedy, it seemed to empathize the evils in a community, which could be eradicated.

Regulars on the show included Ismail Tara, Zeba Shehnaz & Majid Jehangir. These artistes won considerable fan following during the period when Fifty Fifty was aired. Some golden-era songs of Naheed Akhtar and Ghulam Ali were also featured on the show. It was produced and directed by acclaimed Pakistani director Shoaib Mansoor.

Fifty Fifty and Alif Noon are two prominent comedy series in the history of Pakistan Television. Their content was well written by writers who were really dedicated to creativity and patriotic values. Many critics do agree that it took years for viewers to understand the hidden message behind these serials and that is why they are still the best wanted comedy serials till now.

Cast

• Ashraf Khan
• Bushra Ansari
• Javed Sheikh
• Ismail Tara
• Lateef Kapadia
• Majid Jehangir
• Pandit Satyanashi
• Salahuddin Toofani
• Zeba Shehnaz