Dr Dwivedi’s Chanakya
A few days back I again got completely riveted to Dr ChandraPrakash Dwivedi’s TV series ‘Chanakya’ and watched it in a straight 20+ hour stretch (must confess I sometimes did hit the forward button to jump to my favorite parts). A couple days later at a gathering of friends the talk veered towards this series and fresh from watching it I could delve into some interesting minor details. Only to be surprised that many in the group knew and remembered just as much! Soon the discussion took such a passionate turn, the vigor it generated among us simply amazed me. I wondered how and why.
In terms of production Chanakya the series seems so totally devoid of all the jazz and effects of a Mahabharata or any such epic produced. It has hardly any ‘star’ power in the regular sense of the term. It is about a history period about which hardly anyone talks about and are affected by in everyday lives. It is long-winding, the plot or plots are intricate and complex and the language in its extremely pure form at times seems heavy and hard to understand. And here we were lovingly, animatedly and almost nostalgically talking about it. Why? I think, (and this may sound like a cliche but I love cliches because they are always so true!), because it had such a great script and was made with even greater conviction. And considering the colossal scope and breadth of this epic series and the fact that historical facts and information of a period so deep in the past wouldn’t have been so readily available – the challenge to research and write this script must have been so steep.
I recently got in touch with Dr Dwivedi for some production work and mentioned the series and he in his own humble way was thankful that someone remembers him from those times… ah if only he knew how and how much we remember him!
Tags: chanakya tv series, dr chandraprakash dwivedi, epic films, great scripts, historical epics, historical movies, indian history, kreativevistas, valli bindana
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it was one of the most realistic setup of those times, without garish sets and make-up. the dialogues in pristine hindi was amazing, just loved the series. wonderful acting and gr8 research work
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u should have written more yaar, this series deserves better. too little, too late :(
right crazyrals, too little ( with Chanakya it will always be too little) but never too late
will write more, promise! i wish there was “the making of chanakya” video or some such detail somewhere but it wasn’t a trend then :( i haven’t found it anywhere, have you?
the series was really powerful and is so relevant even today. wish someone would telecast this during proper hours. DD-Bharti is broadcasting it at odd hours like 11pm onwards, such a tragedy.
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sob-operas are ruling the roost. i wish dwivedi speak with fox-history and try to telecast there coz they will offer a better timing for sure. right now, they are even showing mahabharat!
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my ‘too late’ was a ref to time. its been 15 years since this was first shown at prime-time…9am on Sunday, later moved to 11am etc
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will look forward to more from u on this. by the way, dwivedi also made ‘mahabharat’ on the same lines. similar setup and dress-code for his chars, unlike chopras opulence. whatever happened of tat? they showed a few episodes on DD and then it was taken off-air. i was quite disappointed with that. please do provide some info on dwivedi’s take on this and some re-telecast options…plz…
@ Valli Bindana, very nice post but looking more from you on this…Those were the great days. I was the only one in my group, who use to watch Chanakya.. i was crazy for Chanakya. I think there should be a repeat telecast at proper timings for Chanakya and even for Bharat Ek khoj. Both Chanakya and Bharat Ek khoj are of same ganre & both rocks. The title song of Bharat Ek Khoj was excellent… us se pehle es dharti per khuch nahi tha…!!
@crazyrals
Dr.Dwivedi’s Mahabharat was shown on Zee TV in 1996. It had a very poor production value and obcioulsy lost the audience ratings as the memory of B.R.Chopra’s blockbuster was still fresh then.
Chankaya was a great work and I enjoyed all the episodes, though some of them dragged along to bore us. I hope the unnecessary details have been edited out this time.
Chanakya was a great good work.Direction was simply superb.. hats off Dr.Dwivedi.Dr.Dwivedi,you were meticulous as a director,actor,writer.you are great.I wish.. I ever get a chance to atleast wish you in person.All the best for your future endeavors.