We love our gods, and so their stories have been passed on via sacred traditions of retelling them orally, recording them in manuscripts or performing them in jaatras, dance forms like Kathakali, Ramleela and so on. Stories of gods, goddesses and demons, the triumph of good over evil have always validated human emotions, taught us moral lessons, enthralled and entertained us.
We also love our television soaps.
We love both with a passion and so it’s no surprise when mythology finds its way into the small screen and is as popular as those saas-bahu soaps and reality shows.
Take a look at why these mythological shows almost always turn out to be such eye-ball grabbers.
Our Gods Our Superheroes
Hollywood may have their superheroes like Batman, Spiderman and Superman but we have Hanuman and the rest of our gods, who are more powerful than the Avengers and the Fantastic Four put together. Whether it is the battle at Kurukshetra, the Ram-baan which killed Raavana or the tandav of Mahadev. We have epic battles, epic action scenes, great power and even greater responsibilities to ensure that godliness always wins.
Though some of our mythological heroines may not fight on the battleground, but just like Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships, it was the humiliation and angst of Draupadi, Sita and Sati that unleashed the massive destruction and eventual triumph of goodness over evil. And this means terrific entertainment and a boost for TRPs.
It’s a Holy (Family) Drama
Gods have siblings, cousins, stepmothers, wives and in-laws just like all of us. So while there is no kitchen politics, what caused Mahadev to launch into that tandav was actually – a sasur-daamaad tiff that became deadly serious and led to destruction. And of course the ever dependable plot of cousins who fight over property! Three serialised versions of the Mahabharata are proof enough, of which, two were super hits. And then there are stepmoms who send their stepsons into exile and half-brothers who love their elder brother unconditionally. Three popular versions of the Ramayana so far on TV and another one in the offing!
So you get the family drama, without the guilt trip of having watched an Ekta Kapoor soap opera, but having done a more pious viewing instead.
God is Love (Story)
The Yash Chopra version of Bollywood romance just isn’t enough for our voracious appetites. We also demand divine love stories on our TV screens. Channels, producers and writers are not shying away from showing gods blushing, having witty nok-jhonks, professing love and when separation occurs, there is the grieving too!
After Sati jumped into the fire to protest her husband’s insult in Devon ke Dev - Mahadev on Life OK, Mahadev wept inconsolably and mourned her death in the Himalayas and the deserts, rather reminiscent of the visuals from the song Tadap Tadap Ke Iss Dil Se... from a Salman Khan starrer. The fact that Mohit Raina playing the role of Shivji is so hunky just made it even more traumatic for the female audience and the TRP gods happier! Now Colors seems ready to capitalise on it and launch a show called Maryaada Puroshattam -Siya Ke Raam, which is the same story of Ramayana but seen from the eyes of a beloved wife. So expect much love and much grieving and good drama!
Spoilt For Choice
We have 33 crore devi devtas according to Hindu mythology, which is over and above the trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh and their wives. We have nine avtaars of Durga. And Vishnuji took ten avatars- most notably Rama and Krishna. Add to it the myriad characters of the Mahabharata, each of whom have strong individual stories - Karna, Eklavya, Arjuna and Krishna to name a few, which merge into the larger stories. So, the same stories of the Mahabharata can be told from many perspectives. Therefore, many shows that keep viewers entertained while goddess Laxmi continues to bless the TV channels and production houses.
Tyohaaron Ke Rang Gods Ke Sang
Diwali, Holi, Maha Shivratri, the many Jayantis celebrating the birth of any of the gods, Durga puja and more. India is a country of festivals! So think food, togetherness with family and friends and happiness. Add a mythological yarn to this mix and you have extra-colourful and larger than life maha-episodes with story points converging on that special festive day creating more melodrama and divine entertainment for all.
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