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Disappointing Adaptations

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
Okay, so I grew up with a lot of Indian produced media focusing on the myths, tales and epics of the Hindu texts. And I have a soft spot for them out of nostalgia, I can’t help but be a little disappointed in their lack of gravitas.
By that I mean, in all the folklore I read and listened to, there were all these themes. Ambiguous morality (in comparison to the West at least) existential questions, ego versus familial bonds etc etc.
But in all Indian media (that I have seen at least) it’s all presented as cartoonishly simple. Black and white morality, hyperbolic villains, pure chaste good guys. I always felt that the text wasn’t given any justice. There was no meat on the bones, so to speak. It was just happy go lucky pure gods and goddesses vs us filthy humans. Some pure some wholly evil.

Maybe that’s changed. I dunno. But does this rant make any sense?
For instance there was a serial devoted to retelling the folklore and scripture regarding Krishna. But it portrayed Kansa as a moustache twirling bad guy and nothing else. I feel like they could have explored his love for his sister battling his ego instead. That would have been compelling drama. Instead he’s just Dick Dastardly. The series is fun and the performances are funny. But there’s no real meat to it.

If someone knows of some compelling human based drama that is an adaptation of the myths/folklore/scripture feel free to let me know.
I just feel that Bollywood has not utilised the folklore to it’s potential. But I could be wrong
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I can’t help but be a little disappointed in their lack of gravitas.

Maybe that’s changed. I dunno. But does this rant make any sense?
In Christianity they call it "the road is narrow, few will find, and even fewer will reach the end"
In Hinduism the roads are similar narrow, few will find, and even fewer will reach the end

The average human seems to be shallow
Because there is an economic Law teaching us about "demand and supply"
Obviously there is not much demand, hence less supply
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
In Christianity they call it "the road is narrow, few will find, and even fewer will reach the end"
In Hinduism the roads are similar narrow, few will find, and even fewer will reach the end

The average human seems to be shallow
Because there is an economic Law teaching us about "demand and supply"
Obviously there is not much demand, hence less supply
Well okay. But that does not really explain refusing to explore the potential of the stories though. Christians get Jesus Christ superstar, a musical exploring the psyche of Judas who has long been cast as the villain. Where’s our Loyd Webber?
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Okay, so I grew up with a lot of Indian produced media focusing on the myths, tales and epics of the Hindu texts. And I have a soft spot for them out of nostalgia, I can’t help but be a little disappointed in their lack of gravitas.
By that I mean, in all the folklore I read and listened to, there were all these themes. Ambiguous morality (in comparison to the West at least) existential questions, ego versus familial bonds etc etc.
But in all Indian media (that I have seen at least) it’s all presented as cartoonishly simple. Black and white morality, hyperbolic villains, pure chaste good guys. I always felt that the text wasn’t given any justice. There was no meat on the bones, so to speak. It was just happy go lucky pure gods and goddesses vs us filthy humans. Some pure some wholly evil.

Maybe that’s changed. I dunno. But does this rant make any sense?
For instance there was a serial devoted to retelling the folklore and scripture regarding Krishna. But it portrayed Kansa as a moustache twirling bad guy and nothing else. I feel like they could have explored his love for his sister battling his ego instead. That would have been compelling drama. Instead he’s just Dick Dastardly. The series is fun and the performances are funny. But there’s no real meat to it.

If someone knows of some compelling human based drama that is an adaptation of the myths/folklore/scripture feel free to let me know.
I just feel that Bollywood has not utilised the folklore to it’s potential. But I could be wrong
Yes they have not. Modern popular culture is unable to handle the nuanced nature of the original religious text.
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
Yes they have not. Modern popular culture is unable to handle the nuanced nature of the original religious text.
Why though?
I’ve seen plenty of nuanced representations of religious figures through the years.
But because the West is afraid of offending the East, we’re stuck with childish reimaginings of our own folklore. I just yearn for something that lives up to the text
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Well okay. But that does not really explain refusing to explore the potential of the stories though. Christians get Jesus Christ superstar, a musical exploring the psyche of Judas who has long been cast as the villain. Where’s our Loyd Webber?
J.C. Superstar became "coincidentally" a hit I think. Tim Rice did not plan this. There is some "meat" in it, but not very much. But some is enough. I remember my Master tell us "The Bible can be summarized in 4 words: Hurt Never, Help Ever". Not to belittle the Bible of course, but to show us, that it's more important to put simple things in practice than to know difficult things in the mind only

I have seen plays in India depicting their Scriptures. They were no big hits like J.C.S, but nevertheless they were there.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of Discourses available to the public now, sharing "meat" in much more depth than J.C.S. Maybe not in Drama. So, the Drama is for the days we like to indulge in Drama, and the Discourses are for the days we like to indulge in deep Teachings. To have them both mixed in One, might be asking to much:D. 1 step at a time

But if you really want to know, then you could mail an ashram in India, asking if they know about something like this. Or you mail some Hindu Drama performers, they could probably help you better than I can. Good luck with it. And if you know, let me know. I did enjoy J.C. Superstar, so I am all eyes and ears for something called "Radha Krishna Superstar":)
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
J.C. Superstar became "coincidentally" a hit I think. Tim Rice did not plan this. There is some "meat" in it, but not very much. But some is enough. I remember my Master tell us "The Bible can be summarized in 4 words: Hurt Never, Help Ever". Not to belittle the Bible of course, but to show us, that it's more important to put simple things in practice than to know difficult things in the mind only

I have seen plays in India depicting their Scriptures. They were no big hits like J.C.S, but nevertheless they were there.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of Discourses available to the public now, sharing "meat" in much more depth than J.C.S. Maybe not in Drama. So, the Drama is for the days we like to indulge in Drama, and the Discourses are for the days we like to indulge in deep Teachings. To have them both mixed in One, might be asking to much:D. 1 step at a time

But if you really want to know, then you could mail an ashram in India, asking if they know about something like this. Or you mail some Hindu Drama performers, they could probably help you better than I can. Good luck with it. And if you know, let me know. I did enjoy J.C. Superstar, so I am all eyes and ears for something called "Radha Krishna Superstar":)
I didn’t say JCS was deep. It was just an interesting interpretation. Though some thought it blasphemous lol


I’m just saying the myths/folklore is there ripe for the arts.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I didn’t say JCS was deep. It was just an interesting interpretation. Though some thought it blasphemous lol
I know, you did not say JCS was deep. And I did not say you said, nor implied it. But good you give the feedback. Always good to clear misunderstandings. And I agree completely with you here (and before). There is some meat in it, and that made it quite interesting to watch, and I enjoyed it, although I also understand others find it blasphemous.

I’m just saying the myths/folklore is there ripe for the arts.
And I agree with this too. Plenty of material to make some nice arts. I would love to have a few other JCS equivalents
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
I know, you did not say JCS was deep. And I did not say you said, nor implied it. But good you give the feedback. Always good to clear misunderstandings. And I agree completely with you here (and before). There is some meat in it, and that made it quite interesting to watch, and I enjoyed it, although I also understand others find it blasphemous.


And I agree with this too. Plenty of material to make some nice arts. I would love to have a few other JCS equivalents
Sorry, if I came across as accusatory. I was just trying to be clear on my stance. But I mean yeah there’s a bit of meat on the bones, I guess.

I just find it disappointing that there is this rich history of folktales and art that is not being forwarded. Though maybe independent artists are taking up the torch.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I just feel that Bollywood has not utilised the folklore to it’s potential. But I could be wrong.
You are not wrong. But quite many Indian writers have explored the sagas, although I would not be able to provide the names because the genre does not interest me. Some of these books have rubbed Hindus in wrong places. Mother Sita and Draupadi are commonly discussed. Some writers have been murdered (Gauri Lankesh, MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar). The group which did this is in jail.
 
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