Reviving Indian epics in modern cinema beyond nostalgia

Breaking free from overdone adaptations

India’s mythological epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, have long been central to its cultural and spiritual heritage. However, their continuous reinterpretation in modern media is beginning to feel repetitive. From TV shows and films to political discourse, the stories are often rehashed with minimal innovation, offering little beyond their original narratives.

India’s mythological epics have long been significant to its cultural, spiritual, and philosophical identity. These ancient texts are filled with teachings, moral dilemmas, and complex characters.

The Ramayana and Mahabharata, in particular, have inspired numerous films, television shows, and works of literature, becoming integral parts of India’s culture.

However, of late their constant reimagining in modern media, especially in films and television, has started to feel repetitive, with little innovation beyond familiar plots.

Overdone adaptations in recent films

The Ramayana and Mahabharata are not simply stories, they are rich philosophical discourses that explore human emotions, duty, and the nature of good and evil.

The Ramayana, for instance, follows Lord Rama’s journey to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, while the Mahabharata focuses on the tragic conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Themes such as righteousness, duty, justice, loyalty, and the consequences of actions, showcased in these epics remain as relevant today as they were centuries ago.

The Ramayana has been adapted countless times, from television shows in the 1980s and 1990s to numerous films. However, these frequent retellings, often in films, television shows, and even political discourse have begun to feel stale. The epics, while valuable, are often exploited for their cultural significance, leaving little room for fresh interpretations or creative approaches.

One recent example of this saturation is the high-profile attempts to bring the Ramayana to the big screen by some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including actor Prabhas and the renowned actor-director duo Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty. While Prabhas’s adaptation of the Ramayana, Adipurush failed miserably at the box office, Devgn’s Singham-again, inspired by the Ramayana, did decent numbers. However, Singham‘s connection to the Ramayana felt overdone and predictable, leaving little room for imagination, especially with its clichéd ending.

Now, another Bollywood superstar, Ranbir Kapoor, is set to star in yet another big-budget film based on the Ramayana. While the star power involved is undeniable, the very existence of such projects raises the question whether it is truly necessary to retell the Ramayana yet again?

Despite its ambition, all these new renditions feel like another attempt to package a familiar story into a commercialised, larger-than-life spectacle. These retellings often focus on the grandeur of the events and the bravery of the heroes, but fail to delve deeply into the philosophical and existential questions posed by the epics. This over-saturation of familiar content risks diminishing the depth of these stories.

Despite the star power and massive budgets, these adaptations often follow predictable storylines, relying on the familiar battles and dialogues rather than offering fresh perspectives. Unless the film presents a radically new interpretation of the original epic, audiences find themselves watching the same battles, hearing the same dialogues, and experiencing the same arcs.

The Mahabharata, too, has been adapted countless times in films and television, with few exceptions. These adaptations often follow a single path, focusing on the most famous sequences, such as the battle at Kurukshetra or Lord Krishna’s counsel to Arjuna. While these moments are central to the epic, the deeper philosophical questions in the Mahabharata, such as free will, fate, the complexities of duty, and the nuances of human emotions are frequently lost in the visual grandeur.

A call for fresh interpretations

Some filmmakers and storytellers are focusing on adaptations that highlight the philosophical, ethical, and spiritual richness of these texts, rather than merely rehashing iconic scenes or focusing on their grandeur.

The success of films like Raavan (2010), which retold the Ramayana from the perspective of the antagonist Ravana, demonstrates that fresh perspectives can breathe new life into these ancient narratives. Another example of imaginative storytelling is Kalki – 2898 AD, a Hindi science fiction film which presents a futuristic, dystopian take on the Mahabharata, exploring a different angle and the story of Eklavya alongside Lord Krishna’s avatar, Kalki.

These stories hold significant value and potential for exploration, but it is crucial that they be approached with creativity and innovation, rather than relying on nostalgia.