- Om Namah Shivay (TV series)
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Om Namah Shivay http://img.filmlinks4u.net/2010/07/Om-Namah-Shivaya-All-Episodes-271x300.jpg Genre Drama Directed by Dheeraj Kumar Country of origin India No. of episodes 208[1][2] Production Producer(s) Zuby Kochhar Production company(s) Creative Eye Broadcast Original channel DD National Original airing 1997 Om Namah Shivay is an Indian television series portraying Hindu mythology and featuring the divinity Shiva, as well as other gods and demigods (such as Shakti/Parvati, Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, and Sage Narada).
The series is presumably named after the mantra Aum Namah Shivaya. It "depicts the spirituality, divinity and the moving power with which Lord Shiva governs the destiny of the universe."
Contents
Story
The plot centers around Lord Shiva and brings Hindu theology to life in a series of interconnected stories. The serial begins with the creation of the universe and the other Devas, then guides the viewer through Shiva's marriage to Sati, Sati's death, Shiva's marriage to Parvati, and tales of many devotional acts, demonic battles, and important religious events (such as the creation of the twelve Jyotirlinga). It ends with events covered in the Mahābhārata and the blessing of the hero Arjuna by Shiva.
According to the show's introduction, source material used to construct the show's plot and script was extensive. Sources listed are the Vayu Puran, Shiv Maha Puran, Skand Puran, Ling Puran, Tantra Chooramani, Valmiki Ramayan, Swetashwar Upanishad, Vaman Puran, Varah Puran, Koorma Puran, Rudra Yamal Tantra, Padma Puran, Devi Bhagwat Puran, and Bhagwat Puran. Director Dheeraj Kumar, a devotee of Lord Shiva, oversaw nine years of research to ensure that Om Namah Shivay's story was complete and accurate[3]; nonetheless, the opening credits begin with an apology for any errors that may have been made in the series.
Kumar has also stated that, besides depicting stories central to the Hindu faith, every episode of the serial "contains certain portions which highlight the cultural heritage of India."[4]
Cast
- Samar Jai Singh as Shiva
- Yashodhan Rana as Kama/Shiva
- Gayatri Shastri as Shakti/Parvati
- Manjeet Kullar as Sati
- Amit Pachori as Vishnu
- Sandeep Mehta as Narada
- Sunil Nagar as Brahma
- Sanjay Sharma as Indra
- Gajendra Chauhan as Daksha
- Rajeshwari Sachdev as Rati
- Nimai Bali as Jalandhar/Shani/Duryodhana
Crew
- Director: Dheeraj Kumar
- Producer: Zuby Kochhar
- Music: Shaarang Dev
Music
Songs from many well-known Indian singers are featured in this serial; a few examples include the title song "Om Namah Shivay" (Pandit Jasraj), "Rudra Rudra" (Vinod Rathod and Udit Narayan, episode 53), and "Trikal Darsh" (episode 89), "Man Mein Ek Kamna" (episode 62), and "Maha Shivratri Aayi" (Alka Yagnik). A contemporary article states that "Jasraj's son, Sharang Dev, has provided music" and that "almost every singer of Bollywood, Lata Mangeshkar included, has sung for the serial."[5]
Unity is created in the series by using the same songs for different scenes, or even the same melodies with different lyrics, to soundtrack a recurring theme or situation. For example, the creation of each Jyotirling is accompanied by a chorus of the song "Ajar Amar Shiv Shankar." "Dharm Na Janu," sung by the boy Upmanyyu in episode 58, later becomes the melody for the song "Jeevan Kya Hai," which the young Markandeya sings in episode 168; each child sings to seek Shiva's protection through prayer. Indra, Narada, and the Devatas sing "Om Shri Tripund Dhari" to ask rescue from Shiva in episode 56; Sachi then sings the same melody as a prayer to Shakti, "Jai Shakti Dayini Maa," in episode 100.
Continuity is also created between different performers with music. For instance, the song "Maha Shivratri Aayi" is sung by Shiva's first wife Sati and then by his second wife Parvati, both celebrating the great festival of Maha Shivaratri.
Home Video
In 2003, Om Namah Shivay was released as a two-part, 42-DVD set, distributed by Madhu Entertainment and Media. It includes an option for English subtitles and a choice of four languages for audio (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam). The DVD insert explains more about the series' creation and purpose: "There is no one character in the world history...which has influenced people so greatly and made them culturally rich as Shiva. The name of Lord Shiva is unique in each and every respect. The TV serial Om Namah Shivay is gratitude shown to this God of Gods called Shiva. A great effort is put to make this serial an unforgettable experience in every Indian's life."
A synopsis of each episode is available on the DVDs and is also provided online.
Trivia
Yashodhan Rana and Gayatri Shastri - the second actor to play Shiva, and Parvati, respectively - became engaged in 1999.[6] They married in 2001 and divorced in April 2010.[7]
References
- ^ "Sony to run old DD mytho in afternoon band". Indiantelevision.com. November 30, 2002. http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k2/nov/nov136.htm. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- ^ "Om Namah Shivay on DVD". Indian Express Group. July 25, 2003. http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5117. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- ^ "A Magnet With a Magic Touch". screenindia.com. http://www.screenindia.com/old/mar20/tele4.htm. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Dheeraj Kumar Makes It Big on the Small Screen". smashits.com. http://smashits.com/dheeraj-kumar-makes-it-big-on-the-small-screen/bollywood-gossip-825.html. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Dheeraj Kumar Makes It Big on the Small Screen". smashits.com. http://smashits.com/dheeraj-kumar-makes-it-big-on-the-small-screen/bollywood-gossip-825.html. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ "But really...". india-today.com. May 7, 1999. http://www.india-today.com/itoday/05071999/eyecats.html. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ "Oh my God, Yashodhan-Gayatri split". tellychakkar.com. May 8, 2010. http://www.tellychakkar.com/news/oh-my-god-yashodhan-gayatri-split. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1997 television series debuts
- DD National television series
- Indian mythological television series
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