Mahabharat (1988 TV series)


Mahabharat is an epic Indian television series based on the ancient Sanskrit epic of the same name. The original airing consisted of a total of ninety-four episodes and were broadcast from 2 October 1988 to 24 June 1990 on Doordarshan. It was produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by his son, Ravi Chopra. The music was composed by Raj Kamal. The script was written by Pandit Narendra Sharma and the Urdu poet Rahi Masoom Raza, based on the original story by Vyasa. Costumes for the series were provided by Maganlal Dresswala.
Each episode is approximately 60 minutes and begins with a title song that consisted of lyrical content and two verses from the Bhagavad Gita. The title song was sung and the verses rendered by singer Mahendra Kapoor. The title song is followed by a narration by Indian voice-artist Harish Bhimani as a personification of Time, detailing the current circumstances and highlighting the spiritual significance of the content of the episode. It is the most successful Mahabharata series ever produced for television.
Mahabharat Katha Part II, the story of Barbarik and Veer Babhruvahan, was a spin-off series that contained portions left out of Mahabharat.

Premise

The series covers the incidents of epic Mahabharata revolving around Lord Krishna, Pandavas, Kauravas, Karna, Draupadi etc.
The show begins with Emperor Bharata giving more importance to ‘Capacity’ over ‘Birth’. The latter shows the birth of Bheeshma and his oath, birth of Pandu, Dhitarashtra and Vidur and birth of Pandavas and Kauravas. The story then focuses on the childhood of Lord Krishna.
Elsewhere, Dronacharya teaches Pandavas and Kauravas and asks to defeat Drupad as Guru Dakshina. Pandavas do so and give half of his kingdom to Drona. For revenge, Drupad obtains Dhrishthadhyumna and Draupadi. Dhritarashtra makes Yudhishthir the crown prince of Hastinapur. Shakuni and Duryodhan hatch a plan to burn Pandavas and Kunti alive, but they survive and go into incognito. Duryodhan is made crown prince of Hastinapur.
Arjuna wins Draupadi in her swayamvara but latter shows her marriage with all five Pandavas. Later, Yudhishthir is made the king of Indraprastha and Pandavas conduct Rajsuya Yagna where Draupadi insults Duryodhana. Latter shows Duryodhana's revenge by trying to disrobe her and sending Pandavas along with Draupadi for an exile of 12 years and 1 year of anonymity. Duryodhana argues that the Pandavas violated the condition of anonymity in their last year of exile, therefore they must spend another 12 years in exile followed by another year of exile in anonymity. This conflict begins to sows the seed for the Mahabharata War.
After 13 years, Arjun and Subhadra's son Abhimanyu marries Uttara. Krishna tries to make peace between both parties. Indra in the disguise of a brahmin took Karna's armor and earrings. Krishna reveals Karna's true identity of being the eldest Pandava.
Before Mahabharata War, Shri Krishna enlightens Arjuna about Geeta and showed his Virata Swaroopa to Arjuna. The latter shows the deaths of Bheeshma, Drona, Karna, Abhimanyu, Shalya, Shakuni, Jayadrata, Ghatotkach, 100 Kauravas, 5 sons of Draupadi and many other warriors in the war leading to the victory of Pandavas over Kauravas. Gandhari holds Krishna responsible for her son's death and curses that his family will also get destroyed. The show ends with Yudhishthir's Rajyabhishek and Bhishma's death.

Cast

Main

Episode 1 - Introduction of Kuru Family, Raja Bharat, and Raja Shantanu
Episode 2 - Ganga Kills Her Sons
Episode 3 - Bhishma is Grown-up
Episode 4 - Bhishma Pratigya/Iccha Mrityu Vardaan
Episode 5 - Amba, Ambika and Ambalika's Introduction
Episode 6 - Birth of Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidur
Episode 7 - Karna's Birth-story, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari Get married, and Pandu and Kunti Get married
Episode 8 - Madri is gifted to Pandu, Pandu is resting and Sage Kindama's curse on Pandu
Episode 9 - Dhritarashtra is king, Pandu's sanyas and Kansa is king and Akashwani about Krishna
Episode 10 - Birth of Balarama and Five Pandavas
Episode 11 - Krishna Janma
Episode 12 - Pootna's Death
Episode 13 - Krishna brahmand darshan and Krishna gets caught while stealing Makhan
Episode 14 - Maiya Mori Mai nahi makhan khayo and Kaliya Nag Tandav
Episode 15 - Radha and Gopikas, protest against Mathura, Devakasur and Trulambasur Vadh
Episode 16 - Kansa invites Krishna to Mathura
Episode 17 - Kansa Vadh
Episode 18 - Pandu's Death
Episode 19 - Satyavati, Ambika, Ambalika take sanyas with Rishi Vyas
Episode 20 - Duryodhan Poisons Bhim and Bhim Gets Strength of 1000 Elephants
Episode 21 - Sudama's chivda and Drona arrives at Hastinapur
Episode 22 - Shastra Pooja, Drona insults Karna and Arjun's Test
Episode 23 - Ekalavya, Karna's Education, Arjun's Test of Bird's Eye
Episode 24 - All the Princes have grown up, and they exhibit their skills in Rangbhoomi, Karna challenges Arjun and Duryodhan gives Anga desh to Karna
Episode 25 - Drona's guru Dakshina to capture Dhrupad
Episode 26 - Krishna gets Sudarshan chakra from Parshuram, defeats Jarasandh and orders building Dwarika
Episode 27 - Yudhishthir Is crowned as Prince. Rukmini Is Being Forced to Marry Shishupal
Episode 28 - Krishna Rescues Rukmini
Episode 29 - Lakshagraha is built-in Varnavata by Purochan
Episode 30 - Tunneling in Varnavat Begins
Episode 31 - Escape from Lakshagraha
Episode 32 - Hidimba Vadh and Bhima's marriage
Episode 33 - Bakasur Vadh
Episode 34 - Dristadyumna & Draupadi Birth and Draupadi Swayamvar
Episode 35 - Arjun wins Draupadi and later she became the wife of the 5 Pandavas
Episode 36 - Pandavas Leave from Panchal to Hastinapur
Episode 37 - Pandavas Arrives at Hastinapur and Kingdom Is Divided
Episode 38 - Pandav Get Khandavprastha
Episode 39 - Coronation of Yudhirsthir, Khandavprastha Becomes Indraprastha
Episode 40 - Arjun runs away with Subhadra
Episode 41 - Arjun weds Subhadra. Arjun gets Devdatta Conch and Gandiva and Bhima gets his Gada
Episode 42 - Jarasandh Vadh, Rajsuya Yagnya begins, Shishupal's Story
Episode 43 - Rajsuya Yagya, Shishupal Vadh
Episode 44 - Vyas predicts War, Draupadi laughs at Duryodhan
Episode 45 - Pandavas go to Hastinapur to gamble
Episode 46 - Yudhishthir loses Everything in the Gamble
Episode 47 - Vastraharan of Draupadi
Episode 48 - Pandavas Get Back Everything
Episode 49 - Re-match of Dyut
Episode 50 - Vanvas Begins
Episode 51 - Gandharvas catch Duryodhan
Episode 52 - Arjun worships Lord Indra and Lord Shiva for Divyastra and gets Pashupatastra
Episode 53 - Krishna's story of one grain of rice, Bhim meets Ghatotkach and Hanuman, Arjun learns dance from Chitrasen
Episode 54 - Arjun gets curse of impotency from Urvashi, Abhimanyu as a kid, Jayadrath's head is shaved
Episode 55 - Story of Poisoned Water and Yaksha, Abhimanyu is Grown-up
Episode 56 - Agyatvas in Matsya Desh
Episode 57 - Karna's curse, Draupadi as Maid Sairandhri rejects Keechak
Episode 58 - Keechak Vadh by Bheema
Episode 59 - Kaurav Attack Matsya Desh
Episode 60 - Viraat war and clothes for Uttara's dolls
Episode 61 - Abhimanyu's marriage and Pandavs decide to send a Doot to Hastinapur
Episode 62 - Dhritarashtra does not agree and sends Sanjay
Episode 63 - Duryodhan gets Narayani Sena from Krishna
Episode 64 - Krishna Goes to Hastinapur as Shanti Doot
Episode 65 - Krishna took Virat Avtar and Indra takes Karna's kawach kundala
Episode 66 - Karna's identity is disclosed
Episode 67 - Vidur resigns as prime minister, Kunti meets Karna
Episode 68 - Sanjay gets Divya Drishti, Ulluk goes to Pandavas
Episode 69 - Duryodhan tricks Shalya to join Kauravas
Episode 70 - Shikhandi's Story
Episode 71 - Arjun Worships Goddess Durga, rules of war laid
Episode 72 - Kurukshetra War begins and Arjun Drops His weapons, Geeta Saar begins
Episode 73 - Geeta Saar continues
Episode 74 - Geeta Saar continues and Krishna shows his Maha-avtaar
Episode 75 - Yudhishthir gets blessings, Yuyutsu changes side and war begins, Abhimanyu faces Bhishma
Episode 76 - Uttar dies, Arjun faces Bhishma and day 2 begins
Episode 77 - Arjun is unstoppable, 3rd day is over, 4th day begins, Bhim is surrounded, 10 Kauravs are killed, Krishna takes out his Sudarshan
Episode 78 - 9th Day is over and 16 Kauravs are dead, Bhishma tells Arjun how to take him out of the war
Episode 79 - Bhishma lies on the bed of Arrows, Karna meets Bhishma
Episode 80 - Day 11, Drona tries to capture Yudhishthir but is unsuccessful, Shantanu comes to Bhishma
Episode 81 - Chakra Vyuh Planned, Duryodhan Promises Susharma
Episode 82 - Abhimanyu Vadh
Episode 83 - Arjun Vows to Kill Jayadrath and Story About Jayadrath's Curse
Episode 84 - Arjun Breaks Kamal Vyuh to Get to Jayadrath
Episode 85 - Shri Krishna covers the Sun, Jayadrath Vadh
Episode 86 - Ghatotkach dies
Episode 87 - Virat and Drupad are killed, Drona Dies
Episode 88 - Dushasana dies and Karna fights with Arjun, Krishna puts the Rath in the land so that Arjun is saved
Episode 89 - Karna's curse, Karna Dies
Episode 90 - Shakuni Dies, Shalya dies, Duryodhan learns about Karna's truth, Yudhishthir Curses All WomanKind, Gandhari curses Krishna & Yaduvansh, Duryodhan Becomes Iron Bodied
Episode 91 - Balaram arrives, Bhim-Duryodhan Gada Yudh, Duryodhan fatally wounded, Balaram decides to kill Bhim
Episode 92 - Duryodhan Dies, Ashwathama, Kripa and Kritvarma Remain, Ashwathama kill the sons of Pandavas and Drishtadyumna, Ashwathama tries to kill Uttara's unborn son, Krishna curses Ashwathama, Parikshit Born
Episode 93 - Dhritarashtra-Vidur discussion about dharma, Pandavas arrive at Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra Tries to Kill Bhim
Episode 94 - Dhritarashtra and Gandhari ready for Vanaprastha. Yudhisthir Becomes King of Hastinapur, Bhishma Dies

Production

Development

According to production team member Kishore Malhotra, the total cost of producing the series was. Casting for the series began in 1986 and shooting started off in mid 1988. Show was shot mostly at Mumbai’s Film City, and the grand battle of Kurukshetra was shot in Rajasthan, with thousands of extras to fill the screen.

Casting

15,000 people applied to play different roles in Mahabharat TV series. The casting team led by Gufi Paintal shortlisted them and called around 1,500 for video screen tests Almost all actors in the series were newcomers, barring Raj Babbar who played King Bharat and Debashree Roy who played Satyavati. Nitish Bharadwaj was chosen by B.R. Chopra, Ravi Chopra, Pandit Narendra Sharma and Rahi Masoom Raza, to play the central role of Krishna, at the age of 23. Initially, he was chosen for playing Vidur. But Virendra Razdan was cast for it as B.R. Chopra considered Bharadwaj young to play the role. Then Bharadwaj was offered to play Nakul and Sahadev, but he rejected and wanted to play Abhimanyu. Days later, he was called and finalized to play Krishna. Firoz Khan was chosen to portray the character of Arjuna despite being rejected in auditions. Asian games gold medalist Praveen Kumar was selected to portray Bhima after Chopra was looking for someone "who could look the robust historical character". Around six actors were shortlisted for the role of Draupadi, including Juhi Chawla, who opted out of the show as she had bagged a film. Ramya Krishnan and Roopa Ganguly were the final names, and at last Roopa Ganguly was chosen, as her Hindi was good. Govinda and Chunky Pandey were signed for the role of Abhimanyu, but they opted out when they bagged films. Later, Master Mayur played the role. Mukesh Khanna who wished to play Arjun was initially offered the role of Duryodhan. But he was signed for Dhronacharya. When Vijayendra Ghadge dropped his role of Bhisma, Khanna got the role of Bhishma. Puneet Issar was offered to play the role of Bheem but was cast as Duryodhan on his wish. The casting director of show, Gufi Paintal had cast himself in the role of Shakuni.

Music

Mahabharat's music was composed by Raj Kamal and lyrics were penned by Pandit Narendra Sharma. Some songs were taken from works of devotional writers like Surdas, Raskhan etc. Apart from main songs there are also several short verses decoding summary of each episode. All those verse were sung by Mahendra Kapoor.

Broadcast

In India the series was originally broadcast on DD National. It was shown in the United Kingdom by the BBC, where it achieved audience figures of 5.1 million. It was also the first programme broadcast on BBC2 after its 1991 revamp, but it had also been shown late at night on BBC 1 the previous year. It has also been shown on FBC TV in Fiji and Star Utsav. It also aired on Epic in Hong Kong and TVB Jade. Dubbed versions were aired in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and also in Indonesia in the early 1990s on TPI and in the early 2000s on ANteve.
The show was again telecast on DD Bharati from 28 March 2020, on DD Retro from 13 April 2020, on Colors TV from 4 May 2020 as well as Star Bharat during the lockdown due to coronavirus.

Reception

In common with the "Ramayana" serial, the broadcasting of a Mahabharat episode was associated with the simultaneous emptying of streets in the cities and people leaving work early to watch it. Along with general audience many big names from Hindi film industry like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Jeetendra also praised the show.
During its rerun in Covid-19 lockdown, it became the second most watched Indian TV show after Ramayan. In week 13, it garned 145.8 million impressions with both morning and evening slots combined on DD Bharati. However, after Ramayan ended, Mahabharat became the most watched TV show until its end. The series ended with 22.9 million viewership.

Home media

The series was uploaded onto the website "Rajshri.com" along with its dubbed Tamil version. Home video of the Bengali-dubbed version of this series has been released by Heart Video. In 2019, Pen India Ltd bought the rights of the show and uploaded all the episodes on its devotional YouTube channel Pen Bhakti including its spin-off series Mahabharat Katha.

Legacy

Mahabharat along with Ramayan became one of the most successful television series based on an epic in Indian television history. Many actors became popular through their appearances in this series. Mukesh Khanna shot to fame as Bhishma and named his production company after his character. Nitish Bharadwaj became famous as Lord Krishna and later he also played lead role in Chopra's another mythological show Vishnu Puran. Roopa Ganguly who played Draupadi; went on to become a successful actress in Bengali cinema. Actor Pankaj Dheer also got immense popularity after playing Karna. His pictures are used in textbooks as reference to Karna and the actor also revealed that his statues are worshipped in temples in Karnal and Batar. Actor Firoz Khan changed his name to "Arjun" professionally after finding success with the role of Arjun.