I am happy to present my latest endeavor, a full-length animated feature adaptation of the 18-day war in the epic Mahabharata. The events depicted follow directly from the text without creative liberty and license. meaning - one can read the Mahabharata war parvas and watch the videos and expect to see both characters and actions follow on screen and line by line from the Kolkata version of Dutt, Manmatha Nath. A Prose English Translation of the Mahabharata. Parimal Publications, 1902. (There are many versions of Mahabharata with slight variations. With the exception of the abridged night 14.)
I offer this depiction of all encounters in the war as proof of the historicity of the tale. For those cynics chalk it up as an old fairy tale or write it off as a bunch of hokum - may this humble offering serve as a counter-spell. Believe. 🙏
This adaptation includes all encounters in the order as described from the text - For example, from day 14 these encounters took place in this order:
And can be seen in the day 14 part of the film following one after another. Notable that encounter 22 on day 14 includes Sanjaya rushing against Chekitana - notable because Sanjaya has one fight and is not a respected fighter, but the narrator of the story to blind king Dhritarashtra. Krishna pardons Sanjaya from a death order given by Dhrishtadyumna to be carried out by Satyaki on day 17. The last man standing left to tell the tale.
“Great Knowledge”
What could possibly be learned from this fever dream?
Before the war the Kauravas consult about a plan to defeat the Pandavas. Karna, hot-headed savage as always, argues to attack them now. Kripa calls Karna a fool and tells him that in a conflict as long as any course of action remains open before war it is best to choose that first. That’s some wisdom the world could use now.
Recommended Related
Ashvatthama’s Brahmastra in days 15 and 18.
A Rogan fan passes along related -
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The apocryphal tale reveals truth behind a lie. Bohr and others were influenced by Vedic thought. The same patterns of understanding that led the physicists to the atomic weapon could just have well led the Vedics to a permutation of a similar weapon based on the same principles. Related -
Audience Rating
The violence as depicted is intended to come off as stage playish - hence at times when characters go down, and the ‘actor’ can be seen hustling out of frame in the next beat I wanted that in play-act vibe. Though its 1 hour 40 minutes runtime of straight war, intent is for kid friendly audience can watch without being exposed to gruesome gore or hyper realism.
A couple years ago my mind wrapped around the war and I saw a movie all at once. Then I thought forget about it. The idea of making it was interesting, but no path and not worth the juice or squeeze. I am not a connected guy with industry ties. I figured if it’s a good idea someone else will think of it and do it, for better or worse, then promptly forgot about it. Until AI. I hope this demonstrates a positive use of the technology, for better or worse.
One can see the challenge in describing the action with text - like trying to describe a single play in football. The left tackle #74 rushed against the defensive end #56. The left guard #72 got crushed by the middle linebacker #55. The center #59 pulled to the right. The right guard #71 and right tackle #69 double teamed the indomitable defensive end #61 out of the lane. The running back #24 followed the tight end #83 around the indomitable safety #43 to the left the cut back to the right. There the lion among linebackers #58 and the stalwart nickelback #52 hammered the running back #24. And so the next play goes.
DIY Soundtrack?
eh - whose got ten thousand bucks a play anyway? Playing random rock or pop tracks on Youtube syncs pretty well with the action once the wheels start rolling. idw I hear Ghatotkacha’s voice in my head like AC-DC nails on chalkboard screeching.
“Don’t turn from me, Ashvatthama. I am not afraid of you. I come from Bheeeeeeem!”
Macabre Macaulay Literary Notes
I recall Ashvatthama strung a literal lion’s tail up on his chariot pole, this version depicts a flag with the print of a lion tail.
Foils.
Arjuna-Ashvatthama.
Arjuna-Karna.
Arjuna-Susharma
Bhima-Duryodhana.
Bhima-Bhagadatta.
Bhima-Shalya
Yudhishthira-Duryodhana
Upapandavas-Dhritarashtra’s sons.
Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira, Sahadeva, Nakula vs. Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra, Karna, Dushasana, Shakuni.
Drupada, Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna v. Drona, Ashvatthama
Drona v. Bhishma
Drona v. Kripa
Satyaki v. Kritavarma
Satyaki-Bhima v. Kripa, Kritavarma. (lions vs. bulls)
5 Kekayas - 5 Upapandavas
Ghatotkacha-Alambusa
Abhimanyu-Lakshmana
Sahadeva, Nakula-Vrishasena, Sushena
Dhrishtaketu-Chekitana v. Kripa-Kritavarma
etc. On it goes. The layers of foils and cross foiling create a magnetic character mesh. That hook that keeps a story going for Millenia? Part two of that equation is that these warriors are athletes, and their peculiar chariot elephant warfare is Olympic level peak athletic performance as much as it is violence.
Who’s the best? Run or hide. I leave it the viewer to decide.
