The Legend of Karna review: A Well-Crafted Animation Series On The Extraordinary Hero – Karna

The Legend of Karna review: A Well-Crafted Animation Series On The Extraordinary Hero – Karna

‘The Legend of Karna’ – Sony LIV brings the life of Mahabharata’s most fascinating, outstanding and misunderstood character ‘Karna’ in a 3D animation series created by Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan J. Kang.

‘The Legend Of Karna’ retells the greatest epic on earth Mahabharata from Karan’s (voiced by Anup Soni) POV, born to Kunti and the Sun God Surya but raised in a charioteer's household, The eldest of the Pandav brothers who was physically abandoned by his mother Kunti, Karan constantly struggled with his identity and was often humiliated for being a lower caste as he was adopted by a lower caste charioteer. The prince of Hastinapur Duroyadhana ((voiced by Shahid Zafar) sees a great warrior and a fierce competitor to the favourite Arjun (voiced by Kumud Soney) and gives Karan what he desperately wants. An identity, Duroyadhana crushes the traditional norms and makes the lower caste Karna King of Anga resulting in a unshakable bond of loyalty from Karan. Who ironically even after being one of the best has to be on the side of the wrong – Duroyadhana.

The character Karan is a great case study, a person in spite of his greatness as a warrior, generous human being, a true friend, was physically abandoned by his mother, cursed by his own guru – Parshuram ( the Guru episode is not there in the five episodes series which is the first part), Karan reeled under frustration, sorrow and had to keep on swallowing the insult due to the injustice done to him.

‘The Legend of Karna’, created by Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan J Kang, and directed by Kang and Navin John, is a filmi imagining catering to the masses and adopts a populist approach.

The story of ‘Karna’ even today has its significance, underling the fact that casteism is so deep rooted in Indian system right from the days of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Interestingly, its not the favourites Pandav’s led by the righteous Yudhisthir who speaks against the rigid norms based on birth, blood and caste, it’s the ‘villain’ of Mahabharata – Duroyadhana who crushes the norms and comes in for rescue of Karna. Duroyadhana may have done it for his benefit but it also highlights the open mindedness and acceptance of the flawed prince of Hastinapur – Duroyadhana.

But apart from the above layers, ‘The Legend OF ‘Karna’ though well-crafted is made primarily keeping the masses in mind. Maybe am reacting early and the second part/season can go deeper into the mind and heart of Karna.

The first part five-episode series begins with the loyal to Hastinapur and Pandav’s Ganga putra Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows on the battleground of Kurukshetra. Ganga putra Bhishma (voiced by Shaktee Singh) is regretful that even after knowing about Karan’s legacy, he did nothing. The first part five episodes animation series ends with Karan obliging his friend Duroyadhana and heading for a battle with an enemy of Hastinapur.

Apart from the inner dilemma and turmoil of Karan, attack on casteisim, ‘The Legend Of Karan’ also shows the bond fathers and sons on one hand we have Dhritarashtra (voiced by Sumonto Roy) and Duroyadhana and on the other hand we have Adhirath (voiced by Paritosh Sand) and Karan. The scene between Kunti (voiced by Dishi Duggal) and Bhishma is also a high point.

The 3D animation is good and ‘The Legend of Karan’ is technically a well-crafted series. Music by Kaala Bhairava creates an impact.

 

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