Many films have adapted stories from Vyasa’s epic Mahabharatha. Telugu films are known for their mythologies and actors; NT Ramarao, for instance, who was worshipped for his role as Krishna. Here is an attempt at a modern narrative of a familiar story with our actors across film industries.
The Plot
A big family (kingdom) led by a blind king sees dramatic twists which begins as a rivalry between his eldest son who leads the pack of ‘bad-boy-brothers’ (99 with one sister) and the five ‘good-boy’ sons of the king’s deceased younger brother. The ‘good-boys’ naturally enjoy the love of their gurus, grandsire and maternal uncle known for his godly powers. The bad-boys also have an uncle — a wily one, their mother’s brother who lives with them and fuels their inherent jealousy. Situations favour the good-boys mostly and both sides grow-up together but in a key turn of fate, the eldest bad-boy exiles his cousins after they lose a game of dice.
All hell breaks loose when the ‘band of bad-boy brothers’ dishonour the wife of the good-boys in court and she vows to wreak vengeance. Incognito for one year and away from the kingdom for 12, the ‘good-boys’ with their wife and mother encounter many experiences and return to claim their share of the kingdom. The bad-boys refuse a peace-pact from the good-boys’ godly-uncle and thus begins an 18-day war! Who wins against whom and how forms the crescendo climax.
The Grandsire Warrior, Bheeshma
Amitabh Bachchan, whose sheer presence and booming baritone sets the character in place even for a still camera. Since it’s a cameo, we will live with a Tamil-dubbing for Big B!
The Great Teacher, Bheeshma
He coaches both the Kauravas and Pandavas but his favourite pupil is Arjuna. Stellar through the whole narrative, he thwarts Ekalavya and Karna from outshining Arjuna. Who can bring dignity to this role? Nassar obviously!
A Mighty Warrior, Karna
Born to Kunti unknown-to-the-world and raised by a charioteer, he is Duryodhana’s best friend. He trains himself to be an excellent archer and warrior. Karna is a victim of his flawed destiny but his loyalty to Duryodhana and his generous nature makes even Lord Krishna beg him to donate his good karma. Sivaji Ganesan played Karnan (1964) and made it impossible for other actors to match-up. Rajinikanth played a modern-day version in Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathy (1991) Who can fill these legendary shoes? Suriya, naturally!
Second Pandava, Bheema
Wrestler and warrior, strongest of the entire clan and avenger of Draupadi’s vows, Bheema wants war as much as Yudhishtra strives for peace. A one-man army who can vanquish his enemy without uttering a word, Bheema’s perspective is the main theme of MT Vasudevan Nair’s Malayalam novel Rendaamoozham. Arya — with his broad shoulders and fitness regime fits the bill to counter Rana’s Duryodhana in the climax
Eldest Pandava, Yudhishtra
An upholder of righteous conduct, philosophical and peace-loving, with a persona that remains unruffled at all times, Yudhishtra’s only vice is a game of dice and it turns the story around in unimaginable ways. Nagarjuna, with his firm, soft voice and straightforward good looks has the reverential presence and can carry off the silent pain of a game gone wrong.
Kaurava King Dhritarashtra, his blind-by-choice wife Gandhari
Sivakumar and Lakshmi — a perfect pair of competent actors who can portray helpless parents when their eldest son Duryodhana is unjust to his cousins yet they remain steadfast in their love for him. Dhritarashtra almost breaks Bheema’s bones and Ghandhari has enough power to curse even Lord Krishna towards the climax!
Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, widow of Dhritarashtra’s step-brother Pandu
Bhanupriya for her classical looks and grace... Her eyes hide a secret which reveals itself just before the war, when she seeks out her illegitimate son Karna to protect her legitimate son Arjuna.
Eldest Kaurava, Duryodhana
Wrestler par excellence, liberal in friendship and kingly in manners, his only flaw is his hatred for his Pandava-brothers. Rana Daggubati with his hulk-like physique is tailor-made for this role.
Shakuni
Sathyaraj can play Ghandhari’s brother — a crafty, bald baddie with an agenda of his own, matching Krishna and the other Kaurava icons with his sarcasm and manipulative methods. The game of dice will unfold in darker shades when Sathyaraj’s Shakuni prods Yudhishtra with dhaayam dhaayam...vilayaadu in his famous thagudu thagudu tone.
Third Pandava, Arjuna
Ace archer, a big hit with women and also favourite nephew of his uncle Krishna, Arjuna can quell a battalion in a single arrow yet feels sad to kill his relatives on the battlefield until Krishna points out the difference between business and personal on the battlefield, which is nothing but the Bhagavad Gita. Karthi is a great choice to play this role where his Arjuna is pitched against his real-life brother Suriya’s Karna.
Fourth Pandava, Nakula
The dark and handsome son of Kunti who excelled in science and administrative arts, and also in swordplay was Yudhishtra’s confidante. As mild mannered as his oldest brother, Nakula knew how to train animals too, which became his disguise in the Virata kingdom and he could gather an army within seconds because of his power to persuade. Prithiviraj is apt for Nakula.
Draupadi
The lone power-house of a woman in this otherwise all-boys tale, Draupadi is wife to the Pandavas. She has special fondness for Arjuna who ‘won her hand’ in aSwayamvara but she also knew how to play her other husbands’ emotions to avenge her insults. Her peer-like equation with Krishna is the stuff of legends. Nayanthara is the best bet to play this role of varying shades and royal beauty as she holds court with men of brain and brawn.
Lord Krishna
A bewitching smile with razor-sharp wit, he is lord of the world and a symbol of universal love, whose presence in key situations propels the story forward. Krishna conveys more with his body language as he manages everyone because he is the only one who ‘knows the end’ but has to act cool about it. A moustache-less Mohanlal is an ideal choice for this role which requires an actor to cover emotions ranging from child-like innocence to serious war-talk espousing the philosophy of life, in a battlefield no less.