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Episode #12 of Hindi TV Serial Bharat Ek Khoj (which was aired on DoorDarshan and now is available as a set of DVD for home viewing); explores the second segment of the tale of two legends Chankya and Chandragupta. You can read the first installment of this tale at: Reviews for – Chanakya and Chandragupta – I
The content of the this episode starts fro the meeting between Virochak and Chandragupt (Chandragupta) arranged by Chanakya. In the meeting it was decided that Chandragupta and Virochak will be the joint rulers of the new Kingdom! Now this is something interesting. Having two rulers for the same area will add to the chaos only! Chanakya then explains them the strategy. Both Chandragupta and Virochak found the offer satisfactory and join hands.
These scenes are not only armed with fantastic dialogs but contain good performances as well. See the command in the voice of Chanakya. Despite of not being the ruler of any area, he possess the power to convey his plans to the powerful persons and make them to follow it. Both actors playing Chandraguta and Virochak does supportive act nicely. The dinner scene is also quite important to watch. It is where we see Chanakya conveying strategy to grab the power point – the Pataliputra. The strategy is simple and effective and the modern troops also uses the same.
The conversation between DhanaNand and his queen Suhasini is the high point of the episode. Meeta Vashisht and Anjan Shrivastav both are fantastic actors and they perform really upto their fame. They look perfect as a couple with high age difference. The gestures, body language and words of DhanaNand effectively shows the mental situation of an old king who see his fate. His confidence is decreasing day by day and is looking for support. Suhasini, who was not ready to marry him at a point, once married to him, accepts the situation, and now doing all she can, to be a life-partner of DhanaNand in real meaning. She ambitiously and confidently takes over into political situations. She started planning next moves intelligently and playing games of politics. Helpless king finds his confidante and support in her and gradually let her make the decisions.
In this tough situations, that is the only way, DhanaNand can behave. He have only two unconditional supporters now, his chief-minister Rakshas (Katyayan) and Suhasini. The dialogs also explores the rising of Baudh (Bodh/Buddha) philosophy and its popularity in the public those days. It also explores that how the religious beliefs and mindset of people can/will be used by the rulers to plan the strategies.
The conversation between Malayketu and Rakshas explores the psychology very well. As DhanaNand was assassinated, Suhasini was all alone. Malayketu ask Rakshas to propose her to marry Malayketu!! So he can be considered as the next ruler of Pataliputra!! It proves that there is nothing like charity or help in politics. Everyone is thinking of his own benefit (some exceptions like Rakshas are there, who are real patriots). Rakshas’ answer here is witty here.
Suhasini was also approached by Chandragupta to marry him! So as soon as she is widowed, she is liked by two grooms. Chandragupta’s feelings were genuine and his purpose is no longer political. We see amazing transformation of Suhasini here. She doesn’t want to be part of political games anymore. She decided to leave everything and accept Sanyas. The conversation between her and Baudh bheekshu is worth watching. Her conversation with Chandragupta contains the best dialogs of the episode. It is not wrong to say that Apart from Chanakya, Suhasini’s character is explored more than anything in this episode. It got more footage than the character of Chandragupta as well! And it works in favor of the content and the episode.
The sets are really nice and believable. A thoroughly carried research work is seen clearly. The wardrobe is also very authentic. The vehicle in which DhanaNand and Suhasini use to run away, the arrows, their disguise costume, all is realistic. The episode explores the deadly games of politics, the changing political and religious situations, the psychology of people involved, and Chankaya’s dream to have a better rule, his will and determination to do it at any cost; all is explored well. The background music is very much compatible to the dialogs. The wars and fights are not explored much on screen (but viewers don’t mind it, due to the pace of episode).
The end is very much to learn from. Despite of being an opponent, Rakshas was approached by Chanakya to take over as Chandragupta’s chief minister and serve the new Kingdom! And, above all, despite of being the supremo of the new kingdom, Chankya left everything in good hands and went back for teaching and finishing his books!!!
Again, this episode proves that with, good content, good dialogs, great performances; a nice stuff can be made even in the tight budget and technological limitations.
