The Vedic hymns being sung in such a serious chorus followed by its Hindi translation equally impactful and in screen one sees the famed red rose associated with the first Prime Minister of Independent India. It just caught my eyes ears' full attention as a boy who was deeply in awe of history. Although at that time when I was barely 13-14 years of age I was in so much awe of Chhatrapati Shivaji after I first got to know about him in 4th Standard textbook that I preserved the textbook to read it for another 3 years during my summer holidays.
Having stumbled upon something on television which is actually letting me get into the life and times of the heroes of history was something like a lifetime opportunity then. Iconic voice of Om Puri as narrator and Roshan Seth as Nehru giving an introduction about the epsiode was just too good.
I used to wait for the episode to the telecasted every Sunday night at 9.30. I was busy imagining the cast for episodes on Shivaji, and was surprised to see that my prediction to have Om Puri as Aurangzeb was dot correct.
The serial certainly ahead of its time gave an idea for common people about how history began in indian subcontinent right from Vedic age to the freedom movement.Everything pictured so precisely and practically with no sensationalisation or controversy.
The serial is based on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's book 'Discovery of India' which he wrote in his British captivity in one of the numerous terms he served in jail of British India. The show conceptualized by Shyam Benegal and many big names like Govind Nihalani being in roles of production, direction etc makes it obvious enough that it was serious and equally fun. If you are a film appreciator than these names need no introduction. Serious films with meaningful stories has been hallmark of Likes of Benegal and Nihalani. 'Manthan' about white revolution in India regarding milk industry is my favourite of Bengal's creations. But all this was an afterthought after I grew old enough and could appreciate what was parallel cinema and why it helped shape serious filmmaking and contributed to the glory of Indian cinemas.
Back to the topic of Bharat ek khoj, it is beautiful and gives one an idea of the changing history and the times. The scene when Akbar slaps his son Jehangir or the episode on life of Ashok or the great chola King RajRaja are just too good to watch. Their are many episodes which make you think and realise how history has shaped us to the point we are now. The episodes on mediaeval Kingdoms, Delhi sultanates, Empires in south give a sufficiently clear idea about politics and life then the highpoint being the commentry it has on Mahabharat and Ramayana is too good.The contradiction in the society then with the episode of Eklavya is depicted so beautifully and is very impactful.My all time favourite is certainly the episode on Mahatma Jotiba Phule, who was nothing short of a revolutionary social reformer, ably played by sadashiv Amrapurkar a solid actor. The scene of encounter between the Ramoshi tribals who are assigned on contract killing of Phule and Phule himself in dead of night is spine tickling. He shows them their foolishness in their ways and having a change of heart one of the Ramoshi later on becomes a learned Pandit and the other becomes Phule's security. Phule opened first school for girl child in India's Pune City and his wife used to brave the cow dung thrown at her while on way to school to teach girlchildren by using two sets of clothes. I am really thankful to the creators of the show, it's actors and whoever have helped in making of the series.
It's my favourite and I still do watch episodes every now and then, it is a ritual which takes me back to my happy moments of childhood with stories from history being brought into real on screen. I am attaching the link of YouTube if anyone find it interesting to check out the series on net.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1EG23oYcaFu6SNAiofd0uco0sD0JeVji&si=zi9klwCqSMGH2Y6i
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