TV9

= Arjun: The warrior prince script writer says Star Mahabharata is 'utterly nonsense' ; glorifies "Karna" excessively. =
Interviewer Sachna Singh from TV9 asked some intriguing questions to Rajesh Devraj who wrote the script of the animated movie, Arjuna: The warrior Prince(2012).
What gave the inspiration to you to make Arjuna, the warrior prince?
It is said that the "History is written by the elder brothers" but what about the younger brothers Arjuna and Bhima, they also have a story to tell. This became my sole inspiration to write the script for the film. The BR Chopra Mahabharata television series, the series which entire India believes as the actual Mahabharata has been made focusing mainly on Karna's heroism, his struggles and his glories, Krishna's wisdom and Yudhisthira's clean ethics. The traditional Mahabharata we read is through Karna and Yudhisthira's point of view.
We all have seen BR Chopra Mahabharata on television in our childhood days. This animated film is different from the traditional Mahabharata. I am not saying this film would be better than the 1988 television series but unlike other traditional Mahabharata, this will focus mainly on Arjuna and Bhima.
Is the film based on Mahabharata or some other source?
No we cannot call it Mahabharata, “This is not the story of Vyasa’s Mahabharata and they should not give that title.” Arjuna is not the main hero of Mahabharata... Right? In this film, there would be only some stories of Arjuna of the childhood one and some fictional stories regarding Arjuna which has nothing to do with the main plot of Mahabharata. Karna, the main character of the Mahabharata is also not present. Krishna's role is also limited in the film. I mean if you watch the film, you would see some unknown stories regarding Arjuna which has not been written by Vedvyasa such as nice brotherly relation of Bhima and Arjuna, some achievements of Arjuna which are not shown. And also there is a twist in the ending of the story, instead of Yudhisthira and Draupadi, Arjuna and Subhadra becomes the king and the queen of Hastinapur respectively. 
How challenging was the making of the film?
It was quite tough to rewrite the Mahabharata with Arjuna's perspective, to bring in some unknown achievements of Arjuna which are not written in the Vyasa's version, we also referred to Indonesian version of the Mahabharata which centralizes Bhima and Arjuna as heroes. Also some tribals called Bundela centralizes Arjuna as the main hero. We also have taken that book in reference for the making of the film.
Why can't it be called Mahabharata then? Even if you are not using the Vyasa's version but through a different point of view.
'History is written by elder brothers'. The main focus of Mahabharata was on Karna and Yudhisthira, they were the central theme of the epic. After BR Chopra, modern TV serials glorify Karna even further such as the Star Plus Mahabharata (2013) one and Suryaputra Karna (2015).
Coming to modern TV serials, which television series in today's times is relevant? 
I would say Star Plus Mahabharata is not as per Veda Vyasa's version, I won't recommend to believe that, it has been shown on television with the sole intention to glorify Karna.... Arjuna looks helpless, weak and a frustrated person which is not true! For example, helpless Arjuna is washing Karna's feet, frustrated Arjuna is crying when Karna is giving his Kawacha-Kundala....its utterly nonsense to show Arjuna as a weak man who has no hold on his own and is just a puppet of Krishna, Drona and Indra. 
But if you watch this film, you will see Arjuna as a warrior with a spark, can fight without anybody's help and is not a frustrated and a helpless man. Arjuna will also be seen as a braveheart, and not a timid who always needs Krishna's help. Until now what you have seen in Karna in books and poetries.... in this film you will see that as Arjuna. Arjuna's character in the Mahabharata by Vyasa is present as the rival of Karna only, but in the film we have covered other fictional personal life stories of Arjuna which is not portrayed in the Mahabharata. The film I made was without Karna, I did this specially because then Karna had to look as an antagonist in the story who is considered the protagonist of Mahabharata.
Why do you think the Star Plus Mahabharata glorifies Karna? Unlike the BR Chopra Mahabharata, the Star Mahabharata has Shaheer Sheikh playing Arjuna as the lead character.
It doesn't matter who is playing the lead character. This serial has Arjuna as its main character but it ends up glorifying Karna instead. I mean the makers using the serial's protagonist(Arjuna) has glorified Karna....amazing isn't it? And here the protagonist is deglorified...shown as a weak and frustrated man who cries when Indra takes away Karna's kawacha. Then I would recommend to watch BR Chopra Mahabharata only instead of this, atleast Arjuna is not deglorified but remains an average warrior.
The reason why Karna is glorified in the Siddhartha Kumar Tewary's Mahabharata is because "Karna is already the glorified protagonist". Everybody has read about him in school books, poetries in schools. The traditional BR Chopra Mahabharata describes Karna's bravery, heroism and generosity. But in the Star Mahabharata series, Arjuna is the main character yet his heroism and bravery is not shown and instead shown as a frustrated human being who is wailing when Eklavya's thumb is snatched, washing Karna's feet and also wailing when Karna's armour is being taken away by Indra. 
And not only Star Mahabharata, in Shri Krishna serial, the protagonist is Krishna yet the heroic character which emerges is Karna only. Krishna himself is praising Karna excessively and accepting his inability to face Karna. See, this is Krishna's serial yet the protagonist Krishna himself looks as a weak character in front of Karna. 
I fear that the upcoming movie Randamoozham which has been announced to release by 2024 taking Bhima as the main character might not glorify Karna and Bhima himself might not look a weak character in front of Karna.
All TV serials and movies taking different protagonists such as Krishna, Arjuna or Bhima. All end up praising and glorifying Karna only I believe. 
Suryaputra Karna though is also the production of Siddhartha Kumar Tewary is actually better than these all, atleast in that serial, the protagonist (Karna) himself is glorified to the fullest! (laughs)
I think in India, the serial makers have assumed that all the heroism and valour in Mahabharata is reserved for Karna only.
If you were to make another film on another character from mythology, who would it be?
Arjuna and Indrajeet have been one of my favourite characters since childhood but as like I said the Mahabharata and Ramayana more focusses on the struggles and glories of Rama and Karna. My favourite character was Bhima but since my school days... I was told only Karna's glories and heroism, Karna's pain and struggles etc. and books such as Rashmirathi and Mrityunjaya and innumerous movies were shown on our television which would hardly feature Bhima.
I will make a fictional film featuring Indrajeet and Arjuna, they hold many similarities in the epic. Actually both were the most powerful warriors of their era.
What similarities do you find between Arjuna and Indrajeet?
They are literally the greatest warrior of Ramayana and Mahabharata yet they are quite under-rated and their heroism and glories are not described in any poetry or books. They both didn't wanted to lose their family and wanted to protect their people. Indrajeet didn't wanted his parents, uncles and his family to die. Arjuna also did not wanted to kill his family comprising Bhishma and Drona. Both had defeated Indra!