Mahabharata-DoorDharshan Verses Star TV

Mahabharata Epic re telecast in with new artists crew. This forces me to make an analysis of characters and roles. Often, I get confused with the characters and think about the role justification. Again, wonder-when Krishna says 'ALL IS ME'...Quite interesting the flow is as I read and re-read. As I child, I liked Ramayana, then as I looked into life and various situations, I could get answers more from Mahabharata.

I was thrilled by the ads floating about the relaunch of the Mahabharata episode on Star TV. I am happy to have watched the B.R. Chopra's Mahabharata. Well, this new attempt is packed with good graphics, new star crew with whom the present generation will be able to identify. However, I was still finding it all together new as, the situations plotted have come to my notice for the first time. For me it's my father who has narrated the story of Mahabharata-so I consider him as Veda Vyasa. I too was too reluctant to listen as I had my own presumption and notions and blamed Krishna knowingly played the game and called it Dharma Yudh. 

My father started the story-

!A war between Pancha Pandava and 100 Kauravas. Kauravas lost and Pandava's won. Mahabharata over!

I asked how come 5 could over throw 100?

'Because of Krishna--he answred.

Why Krishna did not support Kauravas? 'No he sent all his army to Kauravas and he remained with Pandavas'--replied.

Why Kurukshetra war?why did war breakout between cousins? 'Because Duryodana failed to give Pandavas share after 14 years of exile'.


Why 14 years of exile for Pandavas? --'As Pandavas lost in the dice game'-

Why did they lose?--For that you have to listen to the story from the beginning...and he started..

Hastinapur Maharaja Shantanu marrying Ganga........................Wonderful is the epic, the characters and characterization.

One thing is good about is for the generation born in 1985 and later, (then too young to follow and now have outgrown for the B. R. Chopra’s version), and this attempt has given a chance to comprehend, analyze and understand the epic on the grand scale.

Universal Lord Krishna replacing 'Mein Samay Hoon'...miss Harish Bimani's voice....

Best part is, all the episode are uploaded on You Tube. Of course one can even watch B.R.Chopra's Mahabharata too.

My Observations:

Glued to the chair for more than 5 hours I watched all the episodes missing three-Episode 1, 3 and 5 on YouTube. These three episodes are not uploaded well as I get an error message..

Minute things do matter... I have watched N.T.R and Anjali Devi staring 'Lava-Kusha' in Telugu and Tamil--the film was short for more than five years--one can make out the physical change of N.T.R, Lava Kusha... This was shot in the absence of  graphic technology period. 

Today, we eat, we breathe and live in graphic technology world. So, every minute detailing counts.

 I like the map and the sundial used in the new version. Location of Hastinapur, Kuntala Desh, Vidarbha, Gandhra and what constituted 'Bharata Kanda'---amazing!! World map and pointing the location…too good. This is what we can make our children know, understand and give a fuller understanding of the epic. 

Again, use of Charaka-Spinning wheel and dye-work going on at the back drop gives the feel of  existence of practices then. This speaks about making our own clothes and prevalent of colours.

Further-At Kasi Raja daughter Swayamvara-Amba-Ambhalika and Abhika... 'Perfume making machine'

 Or what is better term or word to replace 'machine'...... ? maid servant called 'dasi' making fresh perfumes of rose, jasmine and other flowers--and dashing it on peacock feather for the 'smelling sample' to Amba. The idea is good but as far as my knowledge goes--'Rose' is not indigenous flower. The Art Director should take all the minute details into account before presenting it. Graphics helps to give a picture near to our visualization, but the other artifacts and settings used should also match.

Well, I did not like the use of lotus flowers from china now available in the market and the artificial setting giving the feel of artificial.....

The use of red colour ribbon by Gandhari to blind fold. I don't know whether Satin material prevailed then.

Finally, the episode aired on October 14, 2013 in the Raja Sabha-Palace court- Bheeshama is shown without his beard in the first scene and in the next scene when he greets Maharaja Pandu at the entrance he has a fully grown beard.....This is something very TERRIBLE!!!

Still, would like to watch the following episodes---Pranipatha to all!!