I completely understand the desire for a Western Adaptation of the most fascinating epic of all time. I also understand the several changes made in terms of costume, weaponry, ethics, etc. made to make the tale more relevant and plausible to a different culture. What is unforgivable, however, is the omission of the essence of the magnum opus-its core values.
I overlooked how the characters addressed seniors as if they were friends. I also overlooked how the actors refused to emote visibly even in the face of the most terrible of crisis. I also overlooked what the actors wore-far from anything authentic (especially Draupadi wearing complete attire claiming to wear only a single robe). I also overlooked the most mundane of sets, deprived even of the most vital apparatus to the story. I also overlooked how some of the most lovable characters like Bheem were reduced to tribal of some kind. I overlooked all of this considering that the epic was to cater to a remarkably distinctive audience. After all, if the heart is in the right place, nothing else matters.
But I was wrong. And that is what made me quit this affair only after watching one half of it. I simply could not overlook the unnecessary alterations in the story, like all of the significant events happening at the same time, as if spreading out the events would have made them any less important. Hidimba asking Draupadi for Bheem, Ghatotkach being born as an adult, Hidimba running away from Bheem for apparently no reason left me furious. Arjun acting desperate to prove himself (and taking over Karn in this matter) was unacceptable. Yudhisthir sitting like he could not care less about what was happening and being insulted by everyone around made me wander what justification the director had in mind for him being the protagonist of the tale. Draupadi making merry all the time made me feel absolutely no connection to any grievance of hers, whatsoever. Krishna came and went like a visitor, or even worse.
If I had not known Mahabharat, this effort (or rather the lack of it) would have killed my desire to know anything about it. Yes, emotions are what make a story click. And morals are what this epic is all about. This particular version had neither soul nor body.
I overlooked how the characters addressed seniors as if they were friends. I also overlooked how the actors refused to emote visibly even in the face of the most terrible of crisis. I also overlooked what the actors wore-far from anything authentic (especially Draupadi wearing complete attire claiming to wear only a single robe). I also overlooked the most mundane of sets, deprived even of the most vital apparatus to the story. I also overlooked how some of the most lovable characters like Bheem were reduced to tribal of some kind. I overlooked all of this considering that the epic was to cater to a remarkably distinctive audience. After all, if the heart is in the right place, nothing else matters.
But I was wrong. And that is what made me quit this affair only after watching one half of it. I simply could not overlook the unnecessary alterations in the story, like all of the significant events happening at the same time, as if spreading out the events would have made them any less important. Hidimba asking Draupadi for Bheem, Ghatotkach being born as an adult, Hidimba running away from Bheem for apparently no reason left me furious. Arjun acting desperate to prove himself (and taking over Karn in this matter) was unacceptable. Yudhisthir sitting like he could not care less about what was happening and being insulted by everyone around made me wander what justification the director had in mind for him being the protagonist of the tale. Draupadi making merry all the time made me feel absolutely no connection to any grievance of hers, whatsoever. Krishna came and went like a visitor, or even worse.
If I had not known Mahabharat, this effort (or rather the lack of it) would have killed my desire to know anything about it. Yes, emotions are what make a story click. And morals are what this epic is all about. This particular version had neither soul nor body.