Hindu Religious Films and TV Series

[Guest guest]

Hi Yvonne:

 

You're probably right about the networks that might show these sorts

of programs, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for their

executives (well trained in the "safe" habits of lowest-common-

denominator programming) to take the risk.

 

No worries. In the meantime, you can watch 'em on video or DVD.

They're easy to find in most Indian groceries (which usually rent

movies on the side) ... or you can order them online. You ask:

 

*** What are the names of these series, and who in India produced

them or holds rights to them? ***

 

The video cases would contain most ownership info. Here is a good

selection of TV series and movies in this genre, for those who may be

interested:

 

http://store.nehaflix.com/religious.html

 

I'll try to address your other questions later, Yvonne ...

 

DB

[Guest guest]

Hi, Devi Bhakta!

 

 

Thanx for the info. I'll be sure to check out those movies,

although as a college student I don't have money enough to buy them

all. But maybe a few.

 

As for this:

>I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for their

> executives (well trained in the "safe" habits of lowest-common-

> denominator programming) to take the risk.

 

Ever watch Xena Warrior Princess? Great show. I loved it immensely

when it was on and even have my very own Xena costume complete with

sword and chakram.

 

But I always knew perfectly well that she was mangling ancient

history and mythology. She would take people from ancient history

(Caesar, Cleopatra, Lao Tse, etc.) and figures from ancient mythology

(Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, the Valkyries, etc.) and mix them together

into new stories. No attempt at all to be historically accurate, nor

to be true to the mythology. New stories using old names, that's all.

 

In a few episodes, Xena and her associate Gabrielle visited India.

Again, they took the mythology and changed it to fit their story.

Xena actually changed into Kali. They never used the name Kali but I

could tell what they were doing. Her skin turned black, she grew a

few extra arms, and a third eye appeared in he forehead, bright red.

She whipped the demon pretty easy.

 

At the end of the episode, Xena and Gabby said that they had much

respect for Hinduism as a noble and honorable religion. They said

that they tried to portray it accurately and that they hoped no

Hindus were offended. But that was not enough. Some Hindus did

object. But Xena was just doing what she always did, taking names and

ideas from mythology and creating new stories. The only difference

between this and the other episodes was that there are no ancient

Romans or ancient Greeks alive today to object to what she was doing

to their mythology.

 

My point is that if American tv can show something like Xena,

they can just as easily show these movies about the authentic Indian

mythology. Who exactly is going to object? I can't think of anyone

who would be offenced by this, except maybe some Christian extremists

like my mother, but they don't watch these sorts of things anyway.

There are millions of people who watch things like Xena and Star Trek

and Lord of the Rings, and these will appeal to the same audiences.

Stories about strange happenings long ago in another country. If the

films are well-done, people will watch.

 

Sister Yvonne