''Mahabharat Katha'' is an Indian television series aired on
DD National
DD National (formerly DD1) is a state-owned public entertainment television channel in India. It is the flagship channel of Doordarshan, India's public service broadcaster, and the oldest and most widely available terrestrial television channe ...
. This is a sequel which contains portions and stories left out of
Mahabharat
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 Kuru ...
. It was produced by
B. R. Chopra
Baldev Raj Chopra (22 April 1914 – 5 November 2008) was a famous Indian director and producer of Bollywood industry and television series . Best known for directing Hindi films like ''Naya Daur'' (1957), '' Sadhna'' (1958), ''Kanoon'' (1961) ...
and directed by his son
Ravi Chopra.
Plot
This series covers events not included in the original show including the life of
Ghatotkatch, Hidimbaa,
Barbareek, Aftermath of War,
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 Pand ...
's various marriages, Karna's marriage with Padmavati and his son, Vrishketu and mourning after the war.
The series also showcases the story's
Ashwamedha yagna, during which Arjuna's son Babruvahana, prince of Manipur fights Arjuna and Vrishketu when the horse of yagna reaches Manipur. In the fight, Arjun and Vrishketu are killed. However, Krishna revives both of them and everyone lives happily ever after.
Cast
*
Harish Bhimani as
Samay
*
Rishabh Shukla replaced Nitish Bhardwaj 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 on ...
* Sagar Salunkhe as
Balarama
Balarama ( Sanskrit: बलराम, IAST: ''Balarāma'') is a Hindu god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Ba ...
*
Arjun 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 Pand ...
* Bijay Anand as
Babruvahana
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Babruvahana ( sa, बब्रुवाहन) is the son of Arjuna, a Pandava prince, and Chitrangada, the princess of Manalura. Babruvahana was adopted as the heir of Manalura by his maternal grandfath ...
*
Gajendra Chauhan
Gajendra Singh Chauhan known professionally as Gajendra Chauhan, is a former television actor known for his work on Indian television, especially his portrayal of Yudhishthira in the historical television series ''Mahabharat'' (1988–90). He h ...
as
Yudhisthira
''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 ...
*
Praveen Kumar as
Bhima
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. ...
*
Roopa Ganguly 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 brother ...
*
Puneet Issar
Puneet Issar (born 6 November 1959) is an Indian actor, writer, director, producer and dialect coach best known for his works in Hindi films and television shows. Issar started his acting career as a villain in the Manmohan Desai's 1983 film ...
as
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 ...
*
Durga Jasraj as
Ulupi
Ulupi (), also known as Uluchi and Ulupika, is a character the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. She is a Naga princess, the daughter of the king Kauravya, and is among the four wives of Arjuna. She also finds a mention in the ''Vishnu Purana'' and ...
*
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) ...
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 epi ...
*
Kartika Rane
Kartika Rane is an Indian television and film actress.
She studied sociology at Sophia College, Mumbai and since then entered into modelling and tele-advertising. She appeared in B. R. Chopra's comedy countdown show, ''Ek Se Badkar Ek''. She ...
as
Satyabhama
Satyabhama, also known as Satrajiti, is a Hindu goddess and the third queen-consort of the Hindu god Krishna. Satyabhama is described as the incarnation of Bhudevi, the goddess and the personification of the earth. She aided Krishna in defeat ...
* Bhakti Narula 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 ...
* Veena Rao as
Dussala
*
Sonu Walia as
Chitrāngadā
Chitrāngadā ( sa, चित्रांगदा, ''Citrāṅgadā''), in the Hindu epic ''Mahābhārata'', was the warrior princess of Manipur and the only heir of king Chitravahana. She had a son named Babhruvahana with Arjuna. The story of ...
*
Arun Bali as King Chitravahan
*
Surendra Pal
Surendrapal Singh (born 25 September 1953) is an Indian film and television character actor who works in Hindi films and TV series. He is best known for his roles of Dronacharya in '' Mahabharat'', Amatya Rakshas in '' Chanakya'', Tamraj Kil ...
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 Kau ...
*
Rajesh Vivek
Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay (31 January 1949 – 14 January 2016) was an Indian actor. He is best known to Hindi film audiences for his role as the astrologer Guran in ''Lagaan'' (2001) and as the postmaster Nivaran in '' Swades'' (2004). He had ...
as
Vyasa
Krishna Dvaipayana ( sa, कृष्णद्वैपायन, Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana), better known as Vyasa (; sa, व्यासः, Vyāsaḥ, compiler) or Vedavyasa (वेदव्यासः, ''Veda-vyāsaḥ'', "the one who cl ...
* Manoj Verma as
Kamadeva
Kama ( sa, काम, ), also known as Kamadeva and Manmatha, is the Hindu god of love and desire, often portrayed alongside his consort, Rati.
The Atharva Veda regards Kamadeva as the wielder of the creative power of the universe, also descri ...
* Prajakta as
Rati
Rati ( sa, रति, ) is the Hindu goddess of love, carnal desire, lust, passion, and sexual pleasure. Usually described as the daughter of ''Prajapati'' Daksha, Rati is the female counterpart, the chief consort and the assistant of Kama (Kam ...
*
Kiran Juneja 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 ...
*
Virendra Razdan as
Vidura
Vidura (Sanskrit: विदुर, lit. ''skilled'', ''intelligent'' or ''wise''), also known as Kshatri, plays a key role in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is described as the prime minister of the Kuru kingdom and is the paternal uncle o ...
*
Manish Khanna
*
Ayub Khan (actor) as Parikshit Abhimanyu's Son
*
Aman Verma
Aman may refer to:Poli
People First names
* Aman Hambleton (born 1992), Canadian chess grandmaster
* Aman Hayer (born 1979), Bhangra musician
* Aman Verma (actor) (born 1971), Indian actor
Surnames
* Mohammed Aman (born 1994), Ethiopian midd ...
as
Vrishketu
*
Bijay Anand as
Babruvahan
*
Adi Irani as Chandak
*
Nimai Bali as
Anushalva
*
Deepak Jethi as
Barbarik
*
Jeetendra Trehan as Suryadev
*
Sudesh Berry as Indradev
*
Shashi Sharma as Naagrani
*
Deepak Qazir as Anushalva's Mama
Episodes
* Episode 1 – Barbareek goes to meet the Pandavas. Everyone gets tensed by his power of three arrows.
* Episode 2 – Shakuni convinces Duryodhana to kill unarmed Barbareek.
* Episode 3 – Draupadi goes to Krishna to find a solution for Barbareek. Krishna narrates the story of Barbareek.
* Episode 4 – Krishna kills Narakasur and rescues sixteen thousand queens.
* Episode 5 – Ghatotkach goes to marry Mourvi Barbareek is born.
* Episode 6 – Barbareek goes to Krishna as a disciple.
* Episode 7 – Krishna sends Barbareek to be a disciple of Guru Vijay Siddha Sen.
* Episode 8 – Barbareek performs severe penance to please Kamakhya Devi and gets three powerful arrows. Bheem and Barbareek meet.
* Episode 9 – Barbareek meets Bheesma Pitamah. Krishna tests Barbareek's arrows. Barbareek gives his head as guru Dakshina to Krishna.
* Episode 10 – Barbareek's head is kept on a mountain to witness the Kurukshetra war. War begins.
* Episode 11 – Ashwathama kills the sons of Pandavas and takes their heads to Duryodhana.
* Episode 12 – War ends. Barbareek's head is joined to his body and he leaves for sanyas.
* Episode 13 – Everyone laments loss due to war. Arjun begs for forgiveness from Ganga but she refuses to forgive.
* Episode 14 – Yudhisthir dreams of being reprimanded by Bheesma, Drona, and Karna.
* Episode 15 – Yudhisthir gets ready to take sanyas. Krishna convinces him of Raja dharma and he stays back to be the king and serve Hastinapur.
* Episode 16 – Story of Karna marrying Padmavati.
* Episode 17 – Kunti takes Padmavati and her son Vrishaketu to Hastinapur.
* Episode 18 – Meghavarna (Barbareek's brother) and Vrishaketu together set out to bring shyamkarn horse and fight with the armies of Bhadravati king Yuvanashva.
* Episode 19 – Meghavarna and Vrishaketu bring the shyamkarn horse. Padmavati kidnapped by Anushalva from Ashwamedha yajna.
* Episode 20 – Arjun goes to free Padmavati but is himself caught. Krishna goes for their rescue.
* Episode 21 – Krisna shows his Virat roop and kills Upadrav. Ashwamedha yajna begins.
* Episode 22 – Reconciliation between Dushala and Arjun.
* Episode 23 – Ashwamedha horse reaches the Madra Kingdom. Shakuni's son Viprachitti and Madra king Arun play a Dice Game.
* Episode 24 – Viprachitti captures Ashwamedha's horse. On Gandhari's and his mother Charulata's insistence, he mends his relation with Bheem.
* Episode 25 – Viprachitti throws away the dice of his father Shakuni and promises never to indulge in gambling again.
* Episode 26 – Ashwamedha horse moves next to Saurashtra. Balaram accepts Arjun's peace proposal on Krisha's request.
* Episode 27 – Ashwamedha reaches Manipura. Babruvahan gets a boon from Kamakhya Devi. Flashback of Babruvahan's story begins.
* Episode 28 – Arjun visits Naglok and meets Ulupi. Ulupi sets out to kill Arjuna.
* Episode 29 – Ulupi kidnaps Arjun and takes him to Naglok.
* Episode 30 – Love blossoms between Ulupi and Arjuna
* Episode 31 – Nagraj accepts Arjun's peace proposal.
* Episode 32 – Arjun stays for an extra day for amavasya and swayamvar in Naglok
* Episode 33 – Arjun marries Ulupi. Fight between Chitrangada and Arjun.
* Episode 34 – Chitrangada invokes Kamadev and gets her blessing to regain her forgotten woman traits. Manipur king accepts Arjun's peace proposal.
* Episode 35 – Ulupi gives birth to Iravan. Arjun saves Chitrangada from drowning.
* Episode 36 – Krishna convinces Arjun to marry Chitrangada and the marriage takes place.
* Episode 37 – Chandak swears to take revenge against Arjun. He goes to Manipur to invite Arjun for Ulupi's son Iravan's birthday.
* Episode 38 – Ulupi and Chandak trick Arjuna to believe Chitrangada is having extramarital affair.
* Episode 39 – Arjun doubts Chitrangada of infidelity and abandons her. Chitrangada gives birth to Babruvahan.
* Episode 40 – Arjun meets Krishna in Dwarka and realizes his injustice towards Chitrangada. Ulupi realizes her mistake. Babruvahan is grown up and swears to defeat Arjun. Flashback of Babruvahan's story ends (which had begun in episode 27).
* Episode 41 – Vrishaketu leaves for Manipur. Bheem goes to capture Babruvahan.
* Episode 42 – Babruvahan defeats Bheem and kills Vrishaketu.
* Episode 43 – Babruvahan kills Arjun.
* Episode 44 – Babruvahan and Chitrangada leave for Naglok to bring nagmani for saving Arjun.
* Episode 45 – Arjun and Vrishaketu are brought back to life by Krishna.
Production
The cast and crew were the same as the original series, except some actors like Nitish Bhardwaj who played
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 on ...
in the original series was replaced by
Rishabh Shukla (who had played the role of
Shantanu in the original series) and
Nazneen who played
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 ...
in the original series was replaced by Bhakti Narula.
The 45-episode Hindi series ran on DD National.
Home media
In 2019,
Pen India Ltd bought the rights of the show and uploaded all the episodes on its devotional YouTube channel ''Pen Bhakti'' including the origional series ''
Mahabharat (1988 TV series)
''Mahabharat'' is an Indian Hindi-language epic television series based on the ancient Sanskrit epic of the same title. The original airing consisted of a total of 94 episodes and were broadcast from 2 October 1988 to 24 June 1990 on Doordars ...
''.
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, tt11349824
1991 Indian television series debuts
DD National original programming
Television series based on Mahabharata
Indian television spin-offs