What Is the Story About?
With Indrajith no longer around and Ravan drowning in sadness, Ahiravan wreaks havoc on the Lankan dynasty. Hanuman is surprised to realise he has a son – Makardhwaja, who opposes him initially but makes amends later. He also finds unexpected support from Ravan’s former aide Harshasringa in his quest to free Ram and Laxman from Ahiravan. Who has the last laugh?
Analysis
Ramayana has been retold in several formats across multiple dimensions over the years but Disney+ Hotstar’s The Legend of Hanuman has stood tall for its effort to preserve the sanctity of the epic, reimagine it in an innovative visual form, appealing to kids and adults at once. Created by Sharad Devarajan, Jeevan J Kang and Charuvi Agarwal, the show, in its fifth season, yet again captures the essence of Hanuman’s colourful, nuanced persona effectively.
The longer format has always served as a fine opportunity to tap into the lesser-known tales and introduce the not-so-popular characters from the epic. If the show earlier gave us an account of the power hierarchy within the Lankan kingdom, diving deep into the psyche of Ravan, Indrajith and Ahiravan, this season takes us closer to Harshasringa and Hanuman’s son Makardhwaja.
On a plot level, the show focuses primarily on the backstories surrounding the Patal Lok and the gloomy atmosphere within Lanka owing to Ahiravan’s atrocities. His subjects are tired of his autocratic ways, constantly remaining cautious of his missteps. With Hanuman’s arrival, Ahiravan finally has a worthy opponent and tries every trick in the book to vanquish him.
Harshasringa is a character that truly draws your attention this season, even more than the pivotal parts. There’s a humanly quality to him. Though he’s a celebrated warrior, he admits to experiencing fear from enemies and seeks help from Hanuman to redeem himself. Their united efforts to keep a check on Ahiravan’s reign ensures a handful of interesting episodes that are lively, funny and absorbing.
The subplot, where Hanuman and Harshasringa experience a never-seen-before side of Patal Lok and realise the truth behind the boars in the region, is particularly captivating. The philosophy of Harsha’s character comes to the fore with great craftiness. Meanwhile, the conflict in Makardhwaja’s life, torn between his loyalty to Ahiravan and devotion to his father, is no less intriguing.
Besides the high-voltage action (where Hanuman realises that his biggest weapon is his devotion to Rama), there’s ample humour in store with Ahiravan’s dwarf-sized disciple, who tricks Hanuman and Harsha in more ways than one. Another conversation where Surpanaka predicts the fall of the Lankan dynasty and expresses her desire to leave the region (over a conversation with Ahiravan) is written beautifully, helping us look at the much-debated character in a new light.
The Legend of Hanuman Season 5 is worth a watch for the characterisation and the effort that has gone into visualising them in an animated form. The voice-artists – from Sharad Kelkar to Sahil Vaid to Sanket Mhatre to Manikant Sarbhoy among others – do a commendable job of preserving the spirit of the characters, reflecting their psyche through the dubbing.
Music and Other Departments?
Kaala Bhairava’s music is one of the primary assets of The Legend of Hanuman, where he comprehends the tone of the situation and lets his score elevate the scope of the scene to a different level. The visualisation of the Patal Lok, Lanka dynasty – with the costumes, production design and animation – deserves ample credit for transporting you to a different realm. Shivangi Singh’s simplified dialogues and Tharun Prasad’s sharp edits contribute to its appeal.
Highlights?
Explores lesser-known tales, characters within Ramayana
Terrific visualisation and good music
Good, engaging writing
Drawbacks?
The dull action sequences
The simplistic resolution of few conflicts
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Certainly, if you have a fascination for epics and mythology
The Legend of Hanuman Season 5 Review by Binged Bureau
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