Vikram Aur Betaal

Vikram Aur Betaal (transl. Vikram and Betaal) is an Indian television series that aired on DD National in 1985 and was re-telecast in 1988 after the hit Series Ramayan. The series contained stories from Indian mythology. The concept of the program was based on Baital Pachisi, a collection of tales and legends within a frame story, from India (a collection of 25 tales which is narrated by Vetala to Vikram). It is also known as Vikram-Betaal. It is about the legendary king Vikram (identified as Vikramāditya) and the ghost Betal (identified as Vetala, a spirit analogous to a vampire in western literature). The show aired at 4:30 PM Indian Standard Time on Sundays from 1985 to 1986.
Vikram Aur Betaal draws its inspiration from 'Betaal Pachisi,' which is a collection of tales penned by the 11th-century Kashmiri poet Somdev Bhatt. The tales unfold as the ghost Betaal shares his narratives with the King Vikramaditya.
The legend states that Vikramaditya a ruler governing a kingdom from his capital in Ujjain, was known for his passion for knowledge and adventure. Fearless and resolute, the king welcomed daily visitors who bestowed him with various gifts, all of which he graciously accepted. Among these guests was a mendicant who, on each visit, presented the king with fruit. Vikramaditya, in turn, entrusted these gifts to the royal storekeeper. One fateful day, as the king handled the fruit, a surprising discovery unfolded—a ruby concealed within. Intrigued, Vikramaditya ordered an inspection of all the fruits, revealing a cache of fine rubies. Determined to understand the mystery, the king sought out the mendicant, who set a peculiar condition for their meeting under a Banyan tree in the heart of the cremation ground, at night, on the 14th day of the dark half of the month.Abiding by the arrangement, the king met the mendicant, who revealed a task only a ruler like Vikramaditya could undertake. He instructed the king to retrieve a centuries-old corpse hanging from a tree's branch at the northernmost corner of the ground. The mendicant sought occult powers through specific rites performed on this particular corpse.
Legend further has it that Vikramaditya, driven by a vow, had to transport Betaal's corpse silently from one location to another. During this journey, Betaal's spirit within the corpse narrated stories, concluding each with a question. The king, bound by the vow, had to respond; failure to do so risked dire consequences. Yet, each time Vikramaditya answered, Betaal returned to the treetop, leaving the king short of his destination. Undeterred, Vikramaditya persisted, completing all 25 stories as dictated by 'Betaal Pachisi.' However, Betaal eventually disclosed the mendicant's sinister motive. Intent on acquiring world powers, the mendicant planned to kill the king during the occult rites on Betaal's corpse. Suspicion arose in Vikramaditya's mind, but he proceeded to meet the mendicant, anticipating a surprise. True to Betaal's revelation, the mendicant attempted to kill Vikramaditya, who, displaying cunning prowess, outsmarted and defeated his assailant, exposing the nefarious plan.
Thus, the tales of Vikram Aur Betaal unfold, weaving together elements of suspense, wisdom, and the triumph of virtue over treachery.