[Current hype] Mahabharata

This post are going to be written in english. I'm sorry for my bad english, it's been so long since I used english, my ability is now decreasing so much it made me sad. That's why, now I'm trying to write in english again. To refresh my brain and train my ability again. I hope you can understand this post well, and if I spoiled any grammar, please do tell me. You'll really help me that way.

Lately, Indonesia national tv station, AN tv is airing Mahabharata. In case you readers have no idea what Mahabharata is, I'll make a quick intro's about it first, ok.

Mahabharata is a story about a kingdom named Hastinapura and a big war between the heirs, pandawa (Pandu's sons) and their cousins, kurawa (Drestrarastra's sons). This story is considered as a sacred story in hindu religion. Well, I'm not hindu, but I love this story a lot. We can take so many lesson about life from this story. This story consist issues of dedication (from many character like Kunti, Bhisma, Drupadi), social hierarchy (we learn it from Karna's case), loyalty (from Karna and Bhisma), greed, parenting (Drestarastra and Kunti), crime (from Duryudana), punishment etc.

Some Indonesian people are also hindu, actually Indonesian religion roots are started with hindu. So it's not a surprising thing that Indonesia and India have many similarity in culture, include in this mahabharata story. In Indonesia Arjuna is a character that used for describing a prince charming that idolized by all woman.

Well, enough for this short introduction *I have to stop it since I've said that it's going to be a short one*.

Actually, this is not the first mahabharata tv series that aired in Indonesia tv station. It is the second time, or if I may say, the second version. The first version was aired a long time ago, when I was just a child, so I don't remember it clearly. The old version (the first one) have played like two or three time in Indonesia tv station. Surprisingly, this new version have an excessive response from Indonesian tv viewer, especially the teenager (and moms, of course..most tv viewer are house mom anyway). I called it surprising because I don't think mahabharata is a kind of story that teenager would like. Indonesian teenager have been through many phase of idol. When I was teenage, the west idol are famous. Then lately asian -especially Korean- idol are madly idolized. Then surprisingly, now Hindi actor are idolized. Well, since a long time ago Bollywood actor and actress have their own place in many Indonesian heart, but never like this.

In Indonesia, mahabharata are a traditional story that often told in traditional puppet show called wayang. And nowadays teenage are not really into wayang. The wayang show it self now is not really often to see. To be honest, I'm also not a fan of wayang. So I had no idea how to differentiate one character after another in wayang.

So, why the teenager like it? I think, firstly, of course, because all of the handsome and pretty cast. The "case" are always the first to attract buyer. I called the actors "L men boys" LOL. Because watching this version of mahabharata makes me feel like watching muscle parade, not in any bad meaning... really. I think it was just perfect. They are prince, they supposed to look charming. All handsome and muscly. Those muscle just make these prince look more masculine. Yeah, and I just type the word "muscle" like..3 times, right? But really, those actor are so muscly, this is the first time I ever saw a tv show with the majority of the cast are handsome and muscly. Handsome actor in one tv show or movie are often to see. But handsome and muscly? I only see it in this one.

Pandawa

Secondly, in my opinion, the actors are also great. I can really feel the pain of rejection from Karna. The helpless and powerless feeling from Bhisma when he've promised to obey Drestarastra. The guilty feeling from Kunti every time she saw Karna. The confusion of Drestarastra. The anger of Amba. The charm of Krisna (?) (really, Krisna is a hard one to feel, since he always put a smile on his face, a poker face.. I only catch 2 different emotion from him, when he punish Shishupala and when he sad knowing Drupadi is being harassed). And also, I come to hate Duryudana...hahaha. I even don't like to see his face. That's mean the actor successfully playing Duryudana role, right?. Strangely, I don't hate Sangkuni. I just keep on thinking, he is a smart man, too bad he lost his way. He can be a great person, he knows how to play his strategy and when to pull back. He is just as slick as snake. His strategy and slickenss can only compete by Krisna (because Krisna have a poker face).  

Thirdly, it has a superb set and costume. For a tv show, I think it is really great. Really really great. We, viewers can really feel the glam of a kingdom. Especially for us Indonesian, can also feel the glam on the costume. They're look so real. I don't really understand about the shooting technology. But if I was not mistaken, they produce this tv show just like a movie.

The sets

Subadra's make up and outfit

I don't have to mention about the story, many Indonesian already familiar with the story mahabharata (except my little brother..LOL). The pandawa's name are a common name for Indonesian, especially Javanese man. So I skip the story factor.

There are greatness, there's also a weakness. But well, I think it's only my lack of knowledge, I don't understand why Krisna like to pop out any time and any place he like. I also don't understand why this version of Krisna have a light skin. As far as I know, Krisna have a dark skin, so dark that in any drawing he is colored blue. I also had no idea, but Drestrarastra's act and grown up Yudhistira's patience often annoyed me (I like the young Yudhistira's patience and wisdom, but I don't know why, his grown up version's wisdom and patience is annoyed me) . Well, once again, perhaps it is only because of my lack of knowledge.

Anyway, just in case you are wondering, I used Indonesian spelling for the character names in this post. Like Mahabharata for Mahabharat, Bisma for Bheesma, Arjuna for Arjun.

Now in Indonesia AN tv already aired the 53rd episode. Still a long way to the end of the story, me myself already watch it till the 187th episode. And the war hasn't even started. At the old version, I only cried when Bisma dying. When Arjuna had to shoot him. When Arjuna crying while he shoot Bisma. In this new version... I cried a lot. I cried when Bisma do his vow... when Pandu brought a new wife...(yeah, I'm a woman), when Kunti and pandawa eat fruits in the jungle, when Karna meet Kunti, well..I cried a lot because of Karna..his story broke my heart. And surely going to cry when he and Bisma die. But I also laugh a lot every time Nakula teased Bima. Every time Bima doing "stupid" thing like trying to steal food from Hanoman's hand or when he try to comfort Drupadi by saying that the rope is so strong but then he break it like a thread.

So, have you watched Mahabharat? If you haven't, go and watch it! you can see it on youtube if you want. It is a really great story about life, and you will also be entertained by the actor and actress!