#maharewatch

[maharewatch]

Mahabharata Rewatch Master Post

What is this?

A rewatch for the Mahabharata TV series from the 1980s, made by B. R. Chopra! Be warned of gaudy costumes and questionable special effects--but surprisingly decent performances and dialogues. This rewatch is intended to be for both newcomers to the epic/show, and people familiar with both--that said, a blanket warning that spoilers for the epic are probably likely.

What is the schedule?

Roughly 1 episode per week (~45 minutes each), with new posts going up Friday. This first discussion post though will go up on early on Thursday, to allow people more time to find out about the rewatch/work around schedules. You can watch the episode of the week and post your thoughts at any time before Friday, however.

Won’t that take a while?

There are 94 episodes, so....yeah. Probably. We reserve the right to bump up the number of episodes per week if need be.

What can I expect to find in the Mahabharata?

Besides one of the major touchstones of Indian culture--literally, most people casually namedrop characters/events from the epic in conversation all the time--interesting female characters! Multiple deeply codependant male friendships! Dodgy ethics rife for discussion! Characters who defy the gender binary!

Any advice for new viewers?

It’s....not a terrible idea to skip the “Time’s voiceover” intros. Ditto for any prolonged Vidura and Bhishma discussion that goes on and on and on....

Where can I find these episodes, anyway?

Youtube has a playlist HERE, with English subtitles for all episodes.

What do I do to participate in the rewatch?

Not much! There will be a main discussion post that covers interesting points from the episode in the OP’s opinion, which you can reblog and add to! You are also strongly encouraged to make your own reaction posts, gifs, fics, etc. but if so, remember to tag with #maharewatch so we can find and reblog them.

(Also, if anyone--or ones--want to volunteer to be co-mods or to make some of the  main discussion posts for upcoming weeks, that would be SO AWESOME.)

Where are the links to main discussion posts for previous episodes?

Behind the cut!

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

[many many episodes later]

Episode 94

[avani008]

Hey hey Hey! I just saw the maharewatch post and I was wondering how far along it is now? I would love to join in if it's not too far along

Thank you! For the moment, we’re on hold, as it seems most people are busy...but we hope to be back soon!

[maharewatch]

Main Discussion Post - Episode 1

Skipping over the recap aspects, as we all know the story--some of the storytelling decision this first episode makes are fascinating to me. For example:

We start off with....Bharat? (no, not that one.) It’s not even that he has little to do with the meat of the story--I mean, the Adi Parva also starts generations later. But the Adi Parva, after setting up its frame story, starts with the  bloody history of Kurukshetra before jumping back to the Churning of the Ocean. Bharat and his mom’s story is actually sandwiched as a flashback in between Kunti/Madri/etc’s marriages and Drona/Kripa’s backstories! Which is to say it’s very interesting that of all stories, they picked this one.

Also that this features Shakuntala so prominently where the original doesn’t. She’s clearly the leading lady of the court (Bharat’s wife is...maybe that nice lady to the side? Who doesn’t have a single word of dialogue.), which is a huge step from being a technically impoverished single mother. Good for her.

And also that this is a rare look of what happens after the happily ever after for fairy tale heroines: apparently, live your best life as super rich Queen Mother. I love it.

...I love how excited the narrator is about Bharat, Father of Democracy, but uh, AFAIK that’s not canon in the actual text.

Also not in the text: Bhumanyu being adopted. Actually, the story goes that Bharat had 9 sons, but when he realized they were unworthy, their mothers murdered their own children, after which Bharat had a sacrifice/fathered Bhumanyu with his wife from Kashi. Which is rather more horrifying than the version here.

Cut to: Shantanu. Bit abrupt, that.

Seriously, why does no one incorporate the tragic tale of Shantanu and his brothers? /whine. Thematically, though, it makes an interesting contrast to have brothers who don’t all want the same throne.

YOU GUYS. Since the first time I watched this version, I have never understood how this Shantanu didn’t cotton on that the woman he meets by the river was well...the goddess Ganga! She makes mysterious proclamations! She walks in and out of the water in front of him! She INTRODUCES HERSELF AS “GANGA.”

The “supernatural wife gives mortal man one promise to keep; he can’t do it” theme is so prevalent throughout cultures. It, uh, really doesn’t say good things about storytellers’ opinions on men’s capacity to do simple things like follow directions. 

Prime Minister: *says ominous things about how the King should just chill and not pay attention to governing* *says even more ominous things about how the King’s joy will be gone the second he has an heir* *disappears and never delves into what the meaning of any of that was*

No, seriously, was there some weird subplot about the Prime Minister trying to make a power grab that never was followed up on?

Another reason why Shantanu might have cottoned on earlier: Ganga, literal minutes after birth, is able to get up and stroll down to the river to drown her newborn. Geez.

Also interesting: most of the people being judgey about Ganga’s choices are men. Our friend the Prime Minister makes creepy comments about “murder” and “murderers deserving the death penalty.” (Clearly planning to get the King to sentence his wife to death, then descend into depression so that he can make a power grab--again, the only thing that makes sense with this dude.)

It’s all the more reason why I secretly cheer for the narrative ultimately upholding Ganga’s choices (but more on that next episode.)

....And we end on the death of Baby 5? Or maybe 4. Either way, what a random stopping point.

What other thoughts and comments do you have about the episode? Anyone else inspired to write “5 times, in retrospect, Shantanu ought to have figured out his wife was a goddess” (#3: she mentions that her drink of choice is amrit.)? Or other creations ft. Shakuntala living her best life?

[nadezhda-wexler]

Something I read in an essay is that the original Mahabharatam had Shakuntala have much more freedom of choice and is much less demure. Manu S Pillai writes "[...] One who does not conform to notions of patriarchal correctness and stands proud, instead, as a challenge to the world of men"

Main Discussion Post - Episode 1

Skipping over the recap aspects, as we all know the story–some of the storytelling decision this first episode makes are fascinating to me. For example:

We start off with….Bharat? (no, not that one.) It’s not even that he has little to do with the meat of the story–I mean, the Adi Parva also starts generations later. But the Adi Parva, after setting up its frame story, starts with the  bloody history of Kurukshetra before jumping back to the Churning of the Ocean. Bharat and his mom’s story is actually sandwiched as a flashback in between Kunti/Madri/etc’s marriages and Drona/Kripa’s backstories! Which is to say it’s very interesting that of all stories, they picked this one.

Also that this features Shakuntala so prominently where the original doesn’t. She’s clearly the leading lady of the court (Bharat’s wife is…maybe that nice lady to the side? Who doesn’t have a single word of dialogue.), which is a huge step from being a technically impoverished single mother. Good for her.

And also that this is a rare look of what happens after the happily ever after for fairy tale heroines: apparently, live your best life as super rich Queen Mother. I love it.

…I love how excited the narrator is about Bharat, Father of Democracy, but uh, AFAIK that’s not canon in the actual text.

Also not in the text: Bhumanyu being adopted. Actually, the story goes that Bharat had 9 sons, but when he realized they were unworthy, their mothers murdered their own children, after which Bharat had a sacrifice/fathered Bhumanyu with his wife from Kashi. Which is rather more horrifying than the version here.

Cut to: Shantanu. Bit abrupt, that.

Seriously, why does no one incorporate the tragic tale of Shantanu and his brothers? /whine. Thematically, though, it makes an interesting contrast to have brothers who don’t all want the same throne.

YOU GUYS. Since the first time I watched this version, I have never understood how this Shantanu didn’t cotton on that the woman he meets by the river was well…the goddess Ganga! She makes mysterious proclamations! She walks in and out of the water in front of him! She INTRODUCES HERSELF AS “GANGA.”

The “supernatural wife gives mortal man one promise to keep; he can’t do it” theme is so prevalent throughout cultures. It, uh, really doesn’t say good things about storytellers’ opinions on men’s capacity to do simple things like follow directions. 

Prime Minister: *says ominous things about how the King should just chill and not pay attention to governing* *says even more ominous things about how the King’s joy will be gone the second he has an heir* *disappears and never delves into what the meaning of any of that was*

No, seriously, was there some weird subplot about the Prime Minister trying to make a power grab that never was followed up on?

Another reason why Shantanu might have cottoned on earlier: Ganga, literal minutes after birth, is able to get up and stroll down to the river to drown her newborn. Geez.

Also interesting: most of the people being judgey about Ganga’s choices are men. Our friend the Prime Minister makes creepy comments about “murder” and “murderers deserving the death penalty.” (Clearly planning to get the King to sentence his wife to death, then descend into depression so that he can make a power grab–again, the only thing that makes sense with this dude.)

It’s all the more reason why I secretly cheer for the narrative ultimately upholding Ganga’s choices (but more on that next episode.)

….And we end on the death of Baby 5? Or maybe 4. Either way, what a random stopping point.

What other thoughts and comments do you have about the episode? Anyone else inspired to write “5 times, in retrospect, Shantanu ought to have figured out his wife was a goddess” (#3: she mentions that her drink of choice is amrit.)? Or other creations ft. Shakuntala living her best life?