The first nine episodes of Netflix’s first-ever Indian mythology animated series, Kurukshetra, are now available to stream on the platform. This retelling of the ancient epic centers on the climactic 18-day war, but with a novel narrative structure: the story unfolds through the perspectives of 18 key warriors, one for each day of the conflict.
Early reviews have been mostly mixed toward Kurukshetra. The opening narration by Gulzar has received universal acclaim, with many viewers calling it the show’s most compelling feature. His voice perfectly captures the Mahabharata’s core theme, the eternal battle between action and righteousness.
The series’ concept of exploring the war through 18 distinct perspectives has also been lauded as a sophisticated and intriguing narrative device, designed to make the overwhelming scale of the epic feel more intimate.
The animation quality of Kurukshetra has been largely well-received, particularly during the battle and grand epic sequences. However, there has been some criticism aimed at the somewhat flat facial expressions.
While Gulzar’s opening narration has been praised universally, the voice acting from the rest of the show’s cast has been described as “inconsistent.” The performances of several primary characters are not consistently evocative or distinct, failing to fully bring the legendary figures to life.
Furthermore, some core characters, such as Bhishma and Dronacharya, are portrayed as too one-dimensional, missing the depth of moral conflict the epic is known for.
Still, viewers have praised Netflix for producing content deeply rooted in India’s cultural heritage.
Kurukshetra stands as an ambitious first foray into mythological animation for Netflix India. Despite its imperfections, it successfully leverages the poetic gravitas of Gulzar and a compelling narrative concept to draw in both established fans and newcomers. Stay tuned for more updates.
Check out some of the early reactions to Netflix’s Kurukshetra!