A sudden spurt in mythological serials on television warrants
the basic question – just why has there been a sudden interest in mythology?
The focus is not just on the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, but different gods
and goddesses, like Shani dev, Hanuman, Santoshi Mata, Bheem, Narada muni, etc.
If we see the history of mythologicals, as they are popularly referred to, this
was a staple ever since Dadasaheb Phalke made the first movie, Raja
Harishchandra, which was a mythological movie and soon many such of the same
genre followed suit. Similar movies in different regional languages were being
made and the audiences were lapping it up as mythology was a subject which
every Indian was very close to. While all this while, people had known the
stories, getting to see them was a visual treat, what with all the magic and
grandeur thrown in!
With the advent of the television, mythology came home. It opened up a world
which was hitherto little known to many. Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana created
history in television viewership like never before and much to the discomfort
of its critics, who had ruled out the success of such serial. In the absence of
any ratings like the TRP’s, the rising advertisement revenue was a testimony of
the success of the serial. The devotional response of the audience to Phalke’s
movies and Sagars serials, though separated by more than half a century, was
much the same. The audience euphoria to Sagar’s teleserial was unprecedented
and the rest as they say was history. Then came B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat,
which too saw a successful run, making unknown actors, overnight stars.
Then there was a glut for a decade or so, when the saas-bahu soaps ruled the
roost. The last few years however, has seen a new rise in the mythologicals.
Every TV channel is vying to have one mythological serial in its offering. But
times have changed and so has production value, and one look at the serials
will tell you that graphics play a very important part in today’s serials. The
grand sets of palaces, battle-field, mountains and valleys, etc. are a visual
treat for many, who are now exposed to the grandeur of Hollywood and Bollywood
alike. Technology is very important and the visual treat is a major factor in
many of them. However, according to many people, the only casualty is
authenticity. Is that true?
During my interaction with one of the consultants to a popular mythological
serial I came to know that the consultant was told by the production head that
they wanted the serial to have the look and feel of “Lord of the Rings”! When
the consultant asked them why, he is supposed to have said, that it gives them
a larger audience and a younger audience too! A serial based on Ramayana, which
is on air is supposed to have shown the ashram where the child Ram undergoes his
education, a rather huge structure (a la Nalanda) as against a Spartan ashram
of the erstwhile times. Also, sages who were supposed to be imparting the
knowledge of scriptures were also imparting martial training – was it a mix up
with the Mahabharat? An occasional romantic interlude, where there was none, is
visible too between the central characters, makes it more fictional than
mythological.
A recent article in the national daily has raised instances of deviations from
the original epics. Should that be allowed? While the question is pertinent,
just where is the central authority for such works? Numerous versions of the
myths and epics have made them vulnerable and very often the creators of these
serials end up creating new myths to get eyeballs. Challenging the veracity is
an arduous task and the consultants who often are scholars in their fields end
up having to overlook the anomalies, as the director and the producer take the
final call.
Will not the new generation learn a dubious version of the myths that are shown
on the television? On the brighter side, they will know something, instead of
nothing. If such grandiose production gets them closer to our epics then the
purpose might just have been served. On the darker side, this tweaking in the
myths will only end up creating a new version of the myths, like many other in
existence.
Is that fair? Probably not, but then this is entertainment and not education.
This is run-up to popularity not Puritanism. This is commerce, not classic.
Those interested in the truth, will have to seek it in texts and those keen on
entertainment; will get it in the box, seems to be the nonchalant message! The
start of a debate itself is a good beginning though. While mythology and
legends are being given a grand visual presentation, an ‘occasional
transgression’ is a minor casualty. Economic considerations for the production
team and an easy acceptability with an audience which prefers an experience to
authenticity, has only led to a vast evening-audience whose prime motive is
entertainment.
Not much has changed from the 80s when Ramanand Sagar had ignored the growing
tribe of critics since the audience preference was in tangent to that of the
critics. The nay-sayers can write columns and criticise and the scholars can speak
against it, but the popularity of the teleserials is only growing with a little
care to the ‘truth’ and ‘authenticity’.
The television channels seem to be saying, with due apologies to the bard – If
mythology be the need of the hour, dish it till the audience can take it no
more! If entertainment be the main factor, then serve them in the grandest of
a-la-carte that that can be offered.
First appeared on News18.com
