Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki

Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki is an Indian historical fiction television series, produced by Rose Audio Visuals. It was aired on Star Plus, on weekends, from June 24, 2017 to September 10, 2017.[1][2] The story revolves around the rivalry between the Dravidians and Aryans.[3] The story was written by K. V. Vijayendra Prasad of Baahubali fame.[4] The title song is sung by Mahalaxmi Iyer and Siddharth Mahadevan.

Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki
Also known asAarambh
GenreHistorical fiction
Epic
Written byK. V. Vijayendra Prasad
R M Joshi
Neha Singh
Directed byGoldie Behl
Creative director(s)Ranjeet Bahadur, Dhananjay Gour, Shouvik Bhadra
StarringRajneesh Duggal
Karthika Nair
Theme music composerShankar Eshaan Loy
Opening theme'Ek sach tera, Ek sach mera, Takraye to bane sach naya' by Mahalaxmi Iyer and Siddharth Mahadevan
Country of originIndia
Original language(s)Hindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes24
Production
Producer(s)Shrishti Arya
Goldie Behl
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time43 minutes
Production company(s)Rose Audio Visuals
Release
Original networkStar Plus
Picture format720p (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original release24 June (2017-06-24) –
10 September 2017 (2017-09-10)

As the series did not receive expected ratings, it ended with 24 episodes which was earlier planned for 32 episodes.[5]

Plot

Set in ancient India during the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization and beginning of the Vedic age, this epic follows a saga of war between the Dravidians and the Aryans. In Arambh, Devasena, the daughter of Chamundi, leads Dravidians in a battle against the Aryans. However, she meets Varundev on the battlefield and falls in love with him, despite knowing that he is an Aryan.

Cast and characters

Aryans
200 years earlier
  • Rajniesh Duggal as Varundev, an Aryan chieftain. He was a loyal and skilled warrior.
  • Vipul Gupta as Veer Abhrook, an Aryan chieftain. He was a master of disguise. He was initially jealous of Varundev but later befriended him, after Varundev father's sacrificed himself to save him.
  • Tej Sapru as Head Purohit Agnimitra of the Aryans. He was a leader of the Aryans and was known as a devoted disciple of Indra.
  • Salman Shaikh as Sivaan, Varundev's dearest friend. He was the Aryans' navigator. He influenced Varundev to love Devsena.
  • Tarun Khanna as Veer Kayasth, an Aryan chieftain. Varundev saved him from Nimchas, but he was seriously injured and died. He is later replaced by Varundev.
200 years later
  • Rajniesh Duggal Jaldev/Shivgam (disguise name), the reincarnation of Varundev and one of the destiny kids with Hydrokinetic energy. He is appointed to accomplish a mission, that of killing Devasena.
  • Aarav Chowdhary Purohit Indramitra, descendant of Agnimitra. He is also a leading man of the Aryans with equally divine powers, as his ancestor, Agnimitra. His only aim is to destroy the Dravidians and their Princess Devsena.
  • Nishant Tanwar as Mahisha, one of the destiny kids. He is engaged to Devsena. He is sent by Queen Syala to abduct Devsena’s father. He has the power of pyrokinesis.
  • Manish Khanna as Vishwadeep
  • Shahbaz Khan as Jaldev's father.
  • Dolly Sohi as Jaldev's mother.
  • Kunal Bhatia as Manikarnika, a transgender priestess in Mahishi Devi temple. She has the power to manipulate the earth.

Dravidians
200 years earlier
  • Karthika Nair as Devasena - The princess and heir to the Dravidian throne. She was beautiful, loyal and brave. She sacrificed her life for love and her dynasty.
  • Tanuja as Hahuma - The soothsayer and protector of the Dravidian throne. She is surrounded by numerous snakes who control her. She lives for over 400 years and leads the Dravidians. Though she is a clairvoyant, she was unable to clearly define the circumstances.
  • Joy Sengupta as Arvamudan – Devsena’s father and her primary caretaker and trainer. He was saved by Varundev in the battlefield. As per Dravidian law, since he is saved by the enemy, he is punished with walk of shame and is ordered to be beheaded, which is not approved by Devsena. Devsena crowned herself, as the queen, to give her father a respectful death and killed him.
  • Haanssa Singh as Dayalini, Devsena's aunt and the other caretaker. She was cunning and evil. Power-hungry, she strived to kill Devsena and become the queen.
  • Usha Jadhav as Thangam, Chief Knight of the Dravidians. She was a ruthless warrior.
200 years later
  • Karthika Nair as Devsena - Devsena is reincarnated and named after the warrior queen. She is also a destiny child and is believed to bring back the lost lands of the Dravidians. She is a skilled and intelligent warrior who has the power of cold manipulation.
  • Tanuja as Hahuma - The soothsayer and the protector of the Dravidian throne. As a curse, she is surrounded by numerous snakes who control her. She lives for over 400 years and leads the Dravidians. Though she is a clairvoyant, she is unable to clearly define the circumstances.
  • Madhoo as Queen Sambhavija/ Padmavija of Sambhav Pradesh, Identical twin sisters.

Sambhavija is a loyal and brave queen. She desires to be the mother of the child who will be a queen of the Dravidians and change their fate. She is arrested in a magical mirror by her evil twin sister. She is the mother of Devsena. Padmavija is the evil twin sister of Sambhavija. She is an expert in witchcraft. She desires her sister's husband and imprisons her sister in a magical mirror. She never ages due to her magical powers. She envies Devsena and plots to kill her. She is presently attracted to Mahisha. The lives of the twins are interlinked and so is their death.

  • Paras Chhabra as Kaal Ketu,a man with the power of shifting shape, is appointed to kill Devsena. He is later frozen and smashed to death by Devsena.
  • Yashashri Masurkar as Princess Mekhla, daughter of Padmavija. She is vivacious and beautiful. She falls in love with Jaldev. She has a special bond with her sister, Devsena.
  • Soni Singh as Queen Syala, ruler of one of the Dravidian territories. She is unmarried and adores Silambhan. She plots to kill Sambhavija and abduct Silambhan, her former lover.
  • Vaquar Shaikh as Silambhan, husband of Sambhavija. He is a loyal husband and supports his wife Sambhavija in her decisions. He is unaware that Padmavija summoned Sambhavija.

Production

Aarambh is a high budgeted series with Rs. 1 crore spent for each sequences which included many star cast.[6][7] Before its premiere, the series was promoted at India Gate in New Delhi.[8] The first teaser and promo was released on May 2017.[9]

Writer Vijayendra Prasad quoted “This is a creation of a parallel world of heroism. My story of Devsena will be the first and only narration of a woman so strong that she could rule the world of patriarchy by knowledge and sword. This is the only project which has brought me to the small screen.”[9]

To increase its viewership, it went through many changes including a 200 years leap and a change in its title from Aarambh to Aarambh: Kahaani Devasena Ki.[10][11][12]

Reception

The Quint reviewed, "The show promos - visually, it didn’t seem as great as we had seen in Mahadev, Mahakumbh and Siya Ke Ram. Over all, the performances and execution of Aarambh was quite average. It failed to connect with the viewer."[13]

India Today reviewed, "It promises good things; like a tight script, decent acting, and some great visual effects. The treatment of the basic 'plot' is not completely bizarre. The scenes chase each other, and the pilot packs in a lot of information. Rajniesh Duggall (Varundev), Karthika Nair (Devasena), Tarun Khanna (Veer Kayast), and Tanuja (Hahumaa) were believable."[14]

References
  1. "Rajniesh Duggal: 'Aarambh' is not based on 'Baahubali'". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  2. "Here's everything you want to know about Baahubali inspired show Aarambh". India Today.
  3. Bose, Ishani (25 June 2017). "Aarambh TV review: Impressive visual effects, larger than life story and a celebrated star cast make this a must watch!". India.com. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  4. "Devasena in Baahubali and Aarambh only share the same name and spirit: KV Vijayendra Prasad". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  5. "TV show 'Aarambh' winds up in less than three months". Times Of India.
  6. "Will the Baahubali 2 MAGIC spill over to TV costume dramas, too?". Daily News Analysis.
  7. "Aarambh to Jodha Akbar: 5 most expensive Indian TV shows ever". India Today.
  8. "Huge show Aarambh begins from Delhi's India Gate". ABP News.
  9. "Aarambh PROMO: Fiery Tanuja Mukerji & gorgeous Karthika Nair as 'Devsena' in Star Plus magnum opus will blow your mind!". ABP News.
  10. "Aarambh to take a 200 year leap and introduce 8 new characters". Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  11. "'Aarambh' makers trying every trick to grab more eyeballs?". The Times of India.
  12. "Star Plus serial Aarambh name to be changed". ABP News.
  13. "'Aarambh' Review: Devasena's TV Screen Adaptation Is a Yawn Fest". The Quint.
  14. "5 things we absolutely loved about Baahubali-inspired show Aarambh". India Today.
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