Netflix has officially released the trailer for Kurukshetra, a new animated series based on the Mahabharata, India’s most sacred epic. To release on October 10, the series offers a new take on the ancient epic in terms of narrative, highlighting the lives of 18 pivotal warriors whose decisions and inner conflicts determined the course of history.
Produced by Tipping Point and created by Anu Sikka, Kurukshetra is not merely a retelling of a mythological battle. Directed and written by Ujaan Ganguly, the series is an in-depth exploration of the emotional and moral dilemmas of the characters as they are shown to be multi-dimensional human beings trapped in a turmoil of duty, loyalty, ambition, and betrayal. With animation from Hitech Animation and contributions to lyrics from the great Gulzar, the show marries engaging storylines with visual and poetic elegance.
One of the key themes in Kurukshetra is summarized in Lord Krishna’s poignant line from the trailer: “Iss yuddh mein na koi mitra hai, na koi shatru\” (This war has no friends or enemies). The show does not avoid the shades of grey of dharma (duty) and adharma (injustice), rather delving into the individual conflicts and moral questions that confront every warrior.
Audiences can expect to witness pivotal moments such as Arjuna’s internal conflict about fighting his own kin, Draupadi’s impassioned vow for justice after her public humiliation, Duryodhan’s insatiable hunger for power, and the tragic nobility of Bhishma Pitamah as he’s torn between loyalty and righteousness. By interpreting the Mahabharata from the perspective of several characters, Kurukshetra seeks to universalize the mythical characters and indicate that even in a war perceived to be right — a dharmayuddh — right and wrong tend to blur.
The animation enables large-scale visualizations of Kurukshetra, heavenly weapons, and divine interventions — all the hallmarks of the epic. But it is the emotional depth and narrative complexity that mark Kurukshetra from earlier translations.
With its launch scheduled for October 10, Kurukshetra is set to present both established fans of the Mahabharata and newer viewers alike with a thought-provoking and visually stunning tour through one of the world’s greatest stories. Streaming on Netflix alone, the series asks audiences to see the epic not only as war, but as a profoundly personal tale of human decision and consequence.
