What’s a book, movie, or TV show that you wish you could experience again for the first time?
Unlike most people, I watched B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat quite late. It was only after watching the Star Plus adaptation and reading the original texts that I finally decided to experience B.R. Chopra’s classic retelling of the epic.
The reason for the delay was obvious. I thought it was an old series made with ancient technology. How could it possibly compete with today’s stunning visuals, high-definition screens, and cutting-edge VFX?
God, I was wrong.
Art is not about technology or graphics. It is about creativity, imagination, and the power of storytelling.
The way the dialogues were delivered, the costumes, the sets—everything was captivating. Having read the original texts, I was delighted to discover that it remains one of the most accurate adaptations of the epic ever made.
And don’t even ask me about my favorite characters in the show. Nitish Bharadwaj as Shree Krishna, Roopa Ganguly as Draupadi, Firoz Khan (Arjun) as Arjuna, Mukesh Khanna as Bhishma—every single actor was phenomenal in their role. The performances were so powerful that it’s hard to imagine anyone else portraying those characters.
For some reason, the Vana Parva and Agyatvas portions remain my favorite part of the series. The way the Pandavas’ exile, struggles, resilience, and eventual life in disguise were depicted was simply unforgettable.
I remember watching two or three episodes back to back every day while having my meals. I won’t lie, I still watch the episodes during mealtimes, and I have probably seen each one four or five times by now. I can’t think of any other show I have rewatched so many times, except Mahabharat and The Big Bang Theory. Safe to say, these two are among my all time favorites!
But the feeling of watching it for the first time can never be replaced. What a time that was!
