''Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki'' is an Indian mythological
television drama series
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-gen ...
on
9X based on the
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
epic ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
''.
It ran from 7 July 2008 to 6 November 2008. The series was produced by
Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor (born 7 June 1975) is an Indian television producer, film producer and director who works in Hindi cinema and soap opera. She is the joint managing director and creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited, which was founded in 1994. ...
and
Shobha Kapoor
Shobha Kapoor (born 1 February 1949) is an Indian television, film and web series producer. She is the managing director of Balaji Telefilms Limited, a film, TV and web series production house in Mumbai, India, run by her and her daughter Ekt ...
under their banner
Balaji Telefilms
Balaji Telefilms is an Indian company that produces Indian soap operas, reality TV, comedy, game shows, entertainment, and factual programming in several Indian languages. Balaji Telefilms is promoted by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor and is a ...
. It went off air on 6 November 2008.
Plot
It's a dynastic struggle for the throne of
Hastinapur
Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain tex ...
, the kingdom ruled by the
Kuru
Kuru may refer to:
Anthropology and history
* Kuru (disease), a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with the cannibalistic funeral practices of the Fore people
* Kuru (mythology), part of Meithei mythology
* Kuru Kingdom, ...
clan. The two branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
and the
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
. Although the
Kauravas
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wi ...
are the senior branch of the family,
Duryodhan
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
, the eldest
Kaurava
''Kaurava'' is a Sanskrit term which refers to descendants of Kuru, a legendary king of India who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the epic ''Mahabharata''. Usually, the term is used for the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and his wif ...
, is younger than
Yudhishthira
''Yudhishthira'' (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: ''Yudhiṣṭhira'') is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers. He is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata. He was sired by King Pandu of the Kuru Dynasty and his first w ...
, the eldest
Pandav
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledged ...
. The seeds of the climactic battle of
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra (, ) is a city and administrative headquarter of Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Realm of duty ") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita".
Legends
According to the Pura ...
were laid in the boyhood days of the Kauravas and Pandavas, when
Shakuni
Shakuni ( sa, शकुनि, , ) plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is one of the main antagonists of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was the prince of the kingdom of Gandhara when introduced, later becoming its king a ...
, the maternal uncle of the Kauravas poisoned the mind of
Duryodhana
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
. This series ends before the Kurukshetra war actually occurs.
Cast
Main
*
Mrunal Jain
Mrunal Jain (born 9 January 1985) is an Indian television and Bollywood film actor. He is best known for his role of Hiten, Sameer and Akash in the television series '' Bandini, Hitler Didi and Uttaran''.
Career
He started his career with the ...
as
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
*
Hiten Tejwani
Hiten Tejwani is an Indian television actor known for his work in several fictional shows.
Personal life
Hiten Tejwani was born into a Sindhi family.
Hiten Tejwani married his ''Kutumb'' and ''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' co-star Gauri ...
as
Karna
Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण, IAST: ''Karṇa''), also known as Vasusena, Anga-raja, and Radheya, is one of the main protagonists of the Hindu epic '' Mahābhārata''. He is the son of the sun god Surya and princess Kunti (mother of the ...
*
Ronit Roy
Ronit Bose Roy (born 11 October 1965) is an Indian actor, known for his works primarily in Hindi television and films alongside Tamil and Telugu cinema. Roy has earned numerous accolades in his career including a Filmfare Award, two Screen Awa ...
as
Bhishma
Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, , ), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, played an integral role in Mahabharata. He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic M ...
*
Anita Hassanandani
Natasha Hassanandani (born 14 April 1981), professionally known as Anita Hassanandani or Anita Hassanandani Reddy, is an Indian actress primarily working in Hindi serials as well as Telugu, Kannada and Tamil films.
Early life
Hassanandani wa ...
as
Draupadi
Draupadi ( sa, द्रौपदी, draupadī, Daughter of Drupada), also referred to as Krishnaa, Panchali, and Yagyaseni, is the main female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata,'' and the common consort of the five Pandava brothers ...
* Uma Shanker as
Yudhishtir
*
Aryan Vaid
Aryan Vaid (born 4 July 1976) is an Indian model, who won the Graviera Mister India World modelling pageant in the year 2000. He also went on to win the Mr. International, Mister International Award in 2000. He was a contestant in the realit ...
as
Duryodhan
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
*
Chetan Hansraj
Chetan Hansraj (born 15 June 1972) is an Indian film and television actor.
Career
Hansraj started his career as a child actor in 1980, doing over 250 press advertisements and 30 ad films, and his debut film ''Kook Doo Koo'' was selected for th ...
as
Bheem
In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The ''Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. Af ...
*
Ajaz Khan
Ajaz Khan is an Indian actor. He has starred in movies such as ''Rakta Charitra'' and ''Allah Ke Banday'' and acted in several television daily soaps including '' Rahe Tera Aashirwaad'' and ''Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki''. In 2013, Khan p ...
as
Dushasan
*
Harshad Chopda
Harshad Chopda (born 17 May 1983) is an Indian television actor known for his portrayal of Captain Aditya Hooda in '' Bepannaah'' and Dr. Abhimanyu Birla in '' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai''. He is the recipient of four Indian Television Academ ...
/
Sid Makkar as
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
* Deepak Sandhu as
Nakul
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, ''Nakula'' (Sanskrit: नकुल) was fourth of the five Pandava brothers. Nakula and Sahadeva were twins blessed to Madri, by Ashwini Kumaras, the divine physicians. Their parents Pandu and Madri - died early ...
*
Jatin Shah as
Sahadeva
Sahadeva (Sanskrit: सहदेव) was the youngest of the Pandava brothers, the five principal protagonists of the epic ''Mahabharata''. He and his twin brother, Nakula, were blessed to King Pandu and Queen Madri by invoking the twin gods Ash ...
Other Cast
*
Puja Banerjee
Puja Banerjee (born 6 February 1987), sometimes credited as Pooja Bose, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Bengali films and Hindi television. She is well known for playing Vrinda in the show '' Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna'', whi ...
as
Radha
Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...
*
Kiran Karmarkar
Kiran Karmarkar (born 2 May 1958) is an Indian television, film and theatre actor. He is popularly known for his portrayal of the character Om Agarwal in the television saga ''Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'' (2000 - 2008) that aired on Star Plus.
Care ...
as
Shantanu
Shantanu (Sanskrit: शंतनु) is a character in the Mahabharata, described as the ruler of the Kuru Kingdom with his capital at Hastinapura. He was a descendant of the Bharata race, a forebear of the lineage of the Lunar dynasty, and the ...
*
Sakshi Tanwar
Sakshi Tanwar is an Indian actress and television presenter.
Early life
Tanwar was born in 1972 or 1973 to Rajendra Singh Tanwar, a retired CBI officer, in a middle-class Rajput family from Alwar, Rajasthan, India. She was educated in many Ken ...
as
Ganga
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
*
Ravee Gupta as
Satyavati
Satyavati ( sa, सत्यवती, ; also spelled Satyawati) was the queen of the Kuru. She is the wife of king Shantanu of Hastinapura, and the great-grandmother of the Pandava and Kaurava princes (The principal characters of the Hindu ...
*
Makrand Deshpande
Makarand Deshpande (born 6 March 1966) is an Indian actor, writer, and director in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil cinema, and Indian Theatre. He is often seen in supporting and pivotal roles in various films like ''Jungle'', ...
as
Ved Vyas
Krishna Dvaipayana ( sa, कृष्णद्वैपायन, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana), better known as Vyasa (; sa, व्यासः, Vyāsaḥ, compiler) or Vedavyasa (वेदव्यासः, ''Veda-vyāsaḥ'', "the one who cl ...
*
Rakshanda Khan
Rakshanda Khan Tyagi (born 27 September 1974) is an Indian model, television actress and anchor recognized for her portrayal of Mallika Seth in ''Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin'', Tanya Malhotra in '' Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'', Roshni Chopra in ...
as
Amba
Amba or AMBA may refer to:
Title
* Amba Hor, alternative name for Abhor and Mehraela, Christian martyrs
* Amba Sada, also known as Psote, Christian bishop and martyr in Upper Egypt
Given name
* Amba, the traditional first name given to the first ...
*
Sonal Udeshi as
Ambalika
Ambalika () is a princess featured in the Mahabharata. The youngest daughter of Kashya, the King of Kashi, and Kausalya, she is abducted by Bhishma during her svayamvara ceremony, and becomes the wife of Vichitravirya, the King of Hastinapura. ...
*
Vindhya Tiwari
Vindhya Tiwari (born 22 November 1989) is an Indian television actress, known for her work Unlimited Nasha with adarsh , directed by RAVI PATWA and Indian soap operas. Her breakthrough role was in the drama ''Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo'' on ...
as
Ambika
Ambika may refer to:
Mythology
* Ambika (goddess), an avatar of the Hindu goddesses Durga, Parvati, and Shakti
* Ambika (Jainism), a Jain Yakshini goddess
* Ambika (Mahabharata), the wife of Vichitravirya was also the mother of Dhritarashtra, ...
*
Jaya Bhattacharya
Jaya Bhattacharya is an Indian television actress. She is known for playing antagonistic roles in TV serials. She has also done small roles in movies. Best known for playing Payal in soap opera ''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'', she also play ...
as
Kunti
Kunti ( sa, कुन्ती, ), named at birth as Pritha ( sa, पृथा, ), is one of the prominent characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. She is best known as the mother of the Pandavas and Karna, the main protagonists of the epi ...
*
Kali Prasad Mukherjee
Kali Prasad Mukherjee (born 20 November 1966) is an Indian film and television actor who is best known for playing supporting roles in Bollywood films and Indian soap opera
Indian television drama (in Indian English Indian serials) are tel ...
as
Shakuni
Shakuni ( sa, शकुनि, , ) plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is one of the main antagonists of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He was the prince of the kingdom of Gandhara when introduced, later becoming its king a ...
*
Deepak Jethi
Deepak Jethi (''Dīpaka jēṭahāya'') is an Indian actor in several Bollywood films and Indian TV series. He is also a voice-dubbing actor who dubs foreign media in Hindi. Deepak Jethi played the role of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in '' Pradha ...
as
Dronacharya
Droṇa ( sa, द्रोण, Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya ( sa, द्रोणाचार्य, Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kaura ...
*
Rituraj Singh
Rituraj Rajeev Singh (born 19 October 1990) is an Indian cricketer who plays first-class cricket for Rajasthan. He is from Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Rituraj made his debut for Rajasthan in 2011/12 season. He played for India A
The India A cricket ...
as
Kashi Naresh
Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh (5 November 1927 – 25 December 2000) was the king of Benares, a city considered holy, located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He was the last Bhumihar king of the Kingdom of Kashi.
Childhood
Vibhuti Nara ...
*
Akashdeep Saigal
Akashdeep Saigal is an Indian television actor known for his portrayal of ''Ansh Virani'' and ''Eklavya Virani'' in '' Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' as well as participating in '' Bigg Boss 5''.
Personal life
Saigal's father and older brot ...
as
Kans
Kamsa ( sa, कंस, Kaṃsa, translit-std=IAST) was the tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom, with its capital at Mathura. He is variously described in Hindu literature as either a human or an asura; The Puranas describe him as an asura, whi ...
* Krrish Karnavat as
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
(child)
*
Amar Sharma as
Jarasandh
Jarasandha was a powerful king of Magadha, a minor antagonist in Mahabharata. He was the son of king Brihadratha, the founder of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. According to popular lore, the descendants of Brihadratha ruled Magadha for 260 ...
*
Anurag Sharma as
Shishupala
Shishupala ( sa, शिशुपाल, lit. ''protector of children'', IAST: ''Śiśupāla''; sometimes spelt Sisupala) was the king of the Chedi kingdom, and an antagonist in the Mahabharata. He was the son of King Damaghosha and Srutashubha, ...
*
Alpesh Patel as King
Virata
Virata ( sa, विराट, IAST ''virāṭa''), was the king of the Matsya Kingdom, in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen Sudeshna and was the father of Prince Uttara and Pr ...
*
Gaurav Nanda
Gaurav Nanda is an Indian actor and producer. He works in films, serials and theatre. He is a method acting coach and the founder of Actor Studio India.
He has acted in '' Bamdini'', '' Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi'', '' Yeh Ha ...
as Gargacharaya
* Manoj Ramola as
Shatrughna
''Shatrughna'' ( sa, text=शत्रुघ्न, translit=śatrughna, lit=killer of enemies) is a prince of Ayodhya, King of Madhupura and Vidisha, and a brother of Prince Rama in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is also known as ''Ripudaman' ...
*
Gautam Gulati
Gautam Gulati (born 27 November 1987) is an Indian film and TV actor known for his comic roles in '' Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani'' and ''Diya Aur Baati Hum''. In 2014, he participated in the reality show ''Bigg Boss 8'' and emerged as the winner. ...
as
Duryodhan
Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...
(teenage)
*
Vishal Thakkar
Vishal may refer to:
People
* Vishal (name), a common Indian given name
* King Vishal, emperor of the Mahabharata era who founded the ancient city of Vishalapura
* Vishal (actor) (born 1977), Indian film actor, producer and anti-piracy activ ...
as
Bhishma
Bhishma (Sanskrit: भीष्म, , ), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, played an integral role in Mahabharata. He was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurukshetra War mentioned in the Hindu epic M ...
(teenage)
*
Lavanya Bhardwaj
Lavanya Bhardwaj (born 12 November 1984) is an Indian television actor and model. He is best known for his role as Sahadeva in the mythological TV show ''Mahabharat''.
Personal life
Bharadwaj met Dede Frescilla, an Indonesian lawyer during ...
as
Sahadeva
Sahadeva (Sanskrit: सहदेव) was the youngest of the Pandava brothers, the five principal protagonists of the epic ''Mahabharata''. He and his twin brother, Nakula, were blessed to King Pandu and Queen Madri by invoking the twin gods Ash ...
(teenage)
Reception
Writing for Livemint, Padmaparna Ghosh wrote that "KHMK suffers from a bad case of Kapoor soap hangover. Soft focus close-ups, shaky camera angles, repeat sequences — the new Mahabharat has it all.". Actor
Mukesh Khanna
Mukesh Khanna (born 23 June 1958) is an Indian actor, talk show host and producer who works in Hindi language films and television shows. He is best known for his portrayal of Shaktimaan, the superhero character in ''Shaktimaan'' (1997–2005) ...
stated that producer
Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor (born 7 June 1975) is an Indian television producer, film producer and director who works in Hindi cinema and soap opera. She is the joint managing director and creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited, which was founded in 1994. ...
made a horrendous epic saga which was incomprehensible with the characterisation and costumes of the mythological characters. He also stated that the way Kapoor made the saga was a mockery of Mahabharata.
Navya Sinha another critic wrote for Hindustan Times that "Six-pack abs, waxed chests, off-shoulder blouses and a scantily-clad Draupadi decked in a chiffon sari... that’s what Ekta Kapoor’s version of Mahabharata is all about."
References
External links
*
{{Works based on the Mahabharata , state=collapsed
Balaji Telefilms television series
2008 Indian television series debuts
2008 Indian television series endings
9X (TV channel) original programming
Television shows based on poems
Television series based on Mahabharata