My Review of Mahabharata (2013 TV series) by Siddharth Kumar Tewary

I am yet to see a more attractive man and woman.

Aham Sharma as Karna (from Mahabharata-2013) I've just finished Episode 18. I must say that I am disappointed with the actor playing adult Karna, namely Aham Sharma. Fighting on the Kaurava side despite being Kunti’s son, Karna is the most complex character in the series, and I think Govind Khatri from the 1993 TV series Shri Krishna did a much better job portraying him. Govind Khatri as Karna (from Shri Krishna-1993)

  I adore this character for the austerity he exudes throughout the show, especially when asking Ekalavya to cut off his right thumb and give it to him as Guru dakshina.

Lord Krishna occasionally addresses the audience directly, offering insights and explanations about the ongoing events in the story that end with him saying, "ನೀವೇ ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ನೋಡಿ". While this narrative device adds a spiritual layer and sometimes helps break the monotony of intense sequences, it feels somewhat unnecessary. The plot of the Mahabharata is rich and self-explanatory, and these interruptions often dilute the natural flow of storytelling. Moreover, the audience, already familiar with the moral undertones of the epic, does not always require explicit guidance. While useful in certain moments, these segments could have been minimized to maintain the immersive experience of the unfolding drama.

The role of Shakuni was undoubtedly the hardest, what with the limp and the on-and-off snigger, but Praneet Bhat did a fantastic job.

Playing a blind king has to be a challenge, but Thakur Anoop Singh managed it magnificently.

Ratan Raajputh did a phenomenal job portraying the spurned princess of Kashi.

I love how majestic this character looks, especially with the black beard and mustache.

In order to improve my Kannada--something I should have started ages ago, given that I've lived in Bengaluru for three decades--I started watching the Mahabharat (2013 TV series by Siddharth Kumar Tewary) in Kannada. It is only fitting that I use the Kannada pronunciations of the various characters and the epic. Since Kannada retains the final schwa, I will refer to the show as the Mahabharata .