By Miya Mathew
In the event of the announcement of two back-to-back projects on mythological hero Karna in Malayalam cinema, we decided to go all the way and try to match some of our actors with a few of the most popular characters in the Mahabharata.
This Mahabharata is set in the current milieu—without the Kurukshethra yudham, crowns, lakshagraha, dice games or the armour or Indraprastham. Something like Shyam Bengal’s 1981 film Kalyug.
We present our celluloid choices for the modern Pandavas and Kauravas, Bhishma and Draupadi:
Yudhishthira: According to Veda Vyasa and Lord Krishna, the king was fair and lotus-eyed. Fahad Fazil of the soulful eyes and gentle smile, will make a handsome Yudhishthira. There is a quiet strength about him that will add more intensity to the King.
Bhima: The mighty Bhima and the second of the Pandavas will be safe in the hands of Unni Mukundan—he looks convincing enough to save his lady love and vanquish his enemies without much effort.
Arjuna: The most charming of the lot, the flamboyant, unbeatable warrior who conquers maidens' hearts with the same fervour in which he vandalizes enemies on the battlefield. It’s a tie between Nivin Pauly and Tovino Thomas—for exactly the same reasons—both can look cute and macho at the same time.
Nakulan: One of the twin brothers born to Madri, he is considered to be the most handsome in the lineage and is said to take great pride in that. Tovino Thomas will be convincing as Nakulan.
Sahadevan: Considered the most intelligent among his brothers, the other twin born to Madri is said to be an incarnation of Shukhra, the guru of demons. Neeraj Madhav will make a nice version of Sahadevan—it’s a face that shows intelligence and character!
Lord Krishna: The soothradaran of the Mahabharata—Dulquer Salmaan with his bohemian charm and mischief will make a fantastic Krishna. More so after his no-holds barred version in Charlie. A younger Mohanlal would have been perfect as Krishna!
Draupadi: One of the most beautiful women in Indian mythology, Draupadi is said to be manipulative in nature. In fact many writers have explored the possibility of a silent love between Panchali and Karna. There is an episode where she admits to Krishna, that she regrets not marrying Karna as she felt she wouldn’t have suffered so much misery in his care. Who else but the beauteous Nayanthara can pull off Draupadi?
Duryodhana: Eldest of the Kauravas, he is said to be the incarnation of goddess Kali. Though denounced for his evil deeds; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and Kauravas. His friendship with Karna is legendary. Indrajith will make a convincing Duryodhana, with his inscrutable eyes and menacing grin.
Karna: Known for his generosity, valour and selflessness, he is one of the greatest epic heroes of all times. Vyasa richly describes Karna's beauty and skills, often referring to him as the second Sun on earth. He is said to have possessed all the qualities, skills and power of Kunti's other sons. Prithviraj is the obvious choice—he has the charm, persona and depth needed for the character and in the current lot, no one portrays angst as convincingly as him.
Shakuni: He is one of the main antagonists in the Mahabharata—brother of Gandhari and hence Duryodhana’s maternal uncle. One of the masterminds behind the infamous game of dice, he plotted to destroy the clan of Bhishma. Manoj K. Jayan, known for his versatility, will lend the apt villainy and cockiness to the character.
Kunti: Often regarded as the female protagonist of the Mahabharata along with Draupadi. She is the mother of Karna and the Pandavas and the sister of Vasudeva, Lord Krishna’s father. Kunti is an elegant figure, often torn between Karna and the Pandavas. The face that instantly comes to mind is that of Vinaya Prasad, who is a picture of dignity and calm.
Gandhari: An incarnation of Mati, the Goddess of intelligence, she is a woman of integrity—someone who chose to remain blind-folded to marry a blind King and always raised her dissent against Duryodhana’s schemes. Asha Shareth is the first name that pops up in my mind.
Vidura: One of the central characters, he is one of the ministers and uncles of Pandavas and Kauravas. He was most respected as an adviser by the Pandavas, whom he forewarned on various occasions of Duryodhana's plots to exterminate them. Wouldn’t Biju Menon be perfect for the part?
Dritharashtra: The King of Hastinapura, fathered by Veda Vyasa, was blind from birth. He is always shown as torn between dharma and his love for his son Duryodhana. He appears in Mahabharata sections that have been circulated as separate scriptures, most notably the Bhagavad Gita, whose dialogue was narrated to him. Suresh Gopi will make an imposing King.
Bhishma: The eighth son of King Shantanu, known for his sense of justice, archery and lifelong celibacy pledge. ..the man who was granted the boon of icha mrithyu by his father. Also known as Bhishmacharya—the imposing patriarch of the Mahabharata. It’s a role tailor-made for Mammootty!
(This article originally appeared in FullPicture.in )