What Is the Story About?
Thanks to the might of Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna, the Lanka kingdom resiliently confronts the might of the monkey king Sugreeva and his army. While Jambavan pleads with Hanuman to be wary of his move and advises him not to act impulsively, two young men from Sugreeva’s camp – Nil and Nal – are out to save their king from the clutches of Ravana.
Analysis
Mythology is a well that keeps giving, a director famously quoted in the past, while elaborating on the potential of the epics to be retold from multifarious dimensions. One can’t help but agree with him, as you watch epics come alive with newer interpretations across various mediums by the day.
Among them, Ramayana is ideally suited for a retelling in an animated form for obvious reasons. From the riveting action segments to the man vs wild equation to its inclusivity of the flora and fauna, the quirky aesthetics, histrionics of the characters and their distinctive traits, there’s dense material waiting to be explored on a visual medium with every technological advancement.
Hanuman is the epic’s most colourful, child-friendly character, but how does one unleash a newer perspective in storytelling? The Legend of Hanuman (created by Sharad Devarajan, Jeevan J Kang and Charuvi Agarwal) makes an earnest attempt. Besides being peppy and relevant, the show, using long-format storytelling efficiently, taps into many layers of its interpersonal relationships and raises important questions.
The Legend of Hanuman’s third season (directed by Navin John and Jeevan J Kang) not only preserves the sanctity of the epic by taking a few creative liberties but also looks at life in a demon’s camp with greater depth. As Sugreeva and his army march onto Lanka, they’re thwarted by the magnanimity of Kumbhakarna, the distracted prince of the dynasty. Amidst the struggle, you understand the twisted power dynamics in Lanka.
When Hanuman asks Kumbhakarna if he’s justified in fighting for a man (Ravan) who has abducted a woman in the absence of her husband, the latter responds, ‘It was wrong of him to bring her here, there are no two things about it. Yet, he’s my brother and I’m only doing my duty of guarding the kingdom.’ This conversation shows that the writers’ efforts to humanise the characters while drawing a line between right and wrong.
The show also underlines Ravana’s ego, his greed for supremacy, to be eternal (outlasting his kin and kith) and how it eventually leads to his downfall. Additionally, the subplot revolving around his sons – Ahiravan and Indrajit – is equally intriguing and tries to understand why they feel neglected in the battle. You look at Kumbhakarna with a sense of empathy, as the brother who’s been wronged and one who isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade.
However, in the first two episodes, what lingers in your mind the most is a poignant conversation between Jambavan and Hanuman. When the latter is desperate to free Sugreeva and vanquish Ravana, Jambavan pleads with him to wait for the right time, asking him to seek inspiration from the sea, which has a tranquil exterior, while masking unfathomable power within its depths.
The Legend of Hanuman is just the modern-day upgrade that our enriching epics need, packaging life lessons and offering entertainment, packaged smartly for adults and children alike. From the world-building to the ambience and the persona of its characters and the terrific writing, the show works on many fronts and merits a viewing.
Music and Other Departments?
Kaala Bhairava makes the most of the epic’s relevant interpretation, enhancing the appeal of the playful and powerful situations in the show with his score and providing the right momentum for the story to unfold seamlessly. All the voice artists – from Damandeep Baggan to Sharad Kelkar, Vikrant Chaturvedi, Shakti Singh and Anup Shukla – do justice to their roles with their measured performances.
The 20-minute duration per episode is viewer-friendly, with the creators making a genuine effort to go beyond the obvious. Beneath the storytelling, The Legend of Hanuman strikes a chord with its technical finesse – something that the box office turkey Adipurush struggled to achieve. Although the virtual avatars of the mythological characters are highly stylised (partly westernised), more muscular and toned beyond necessity, there’s a genuine quest from the makers to appeal to a wider segment of audiences without deviating from the epic’s soul.
Highlights?
Enriching storytelling with newer perspectives to the epic
Technical finesse, good world-building
Layered writing
Drawbacks?
The linear black-and-white approach towards a few characters
The visual detailing
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It? Yes
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