Animation is the new-age phenomenon, though the concept itself is old. The success of Mahavatar Narasimha in theatres speaks volumes about how narrative impact matters more than the artistes or real-time grandeur.
Now, it’s the turn of Kurukshetra- Part 1. Though it’s not a theatrical release, it has arrived on Netflix. Let’s delve into it and see how impactful it truly is.
It is currently streaming on Netflix as a nine-episode series.
This Kurukshetra Part 1, the animated web series, retells the famous Mahabharata story in a new way. Instead of focusing only on the Pandavas, Kauravas, or Draupadi, it shows the 18-day war through the eyes of 18 different warriors. This fresh idea makes the series interesting and different from earlier versions.
The nine episodes of Part 1 explore one day of the battle at a time, along with the past and emotions of warriors like Bhishma, Dronacharya, Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Jayadratha and others. The show highlights both personal pain and political games, showing that the war was not just about victory but also about guilt, loss and duty.
The animation looks ok and proves that animated stories are not only for children. In fact, Mahabharata is the cultural phenomenan that all age groups show interest to watch.
The dubbing artistes did adequate job throughout and there are no major complaints with regard to the watching experience by Telugu audience. However the names of the Telugu writers and artistes are not mentioned and the songs sounded in Hindi, ignoring the need for Telugu dubbing. That's a let down.
Even with this flaw, Kurukshetra Part 1 succeeds in presenting the epic with respect and depth. It gives the old story a modern touch by focusing on each warrior’s inner struggle and moral conflict. The series ends with curiosity for Part 2, promising more intense stories from the battlefield.
Streaming On: Netflix