Bharat Ek Khoj

This is a series that is very close to my heart. This series takes us back 5000 Years back on a journey of discovering India. Inspired from the Great work Discovery of India by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru this work is a marvel. Great actors like Om Puri, Kulbhushan Khalabanda, Irfan Khan and obviously Roshan Seth adorn the masterpiece with their brilliant performance. History can never be so interesting as this. This is a must watch for everyone, particularly Indians.

This Bharat ki Khoj is based on Book "The Discovery of India" written by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

It is fabulously crafted edited and directed. It gives us a true picture of rural midas and countryside life. The series is purest in its depiction of Indian History. Their is not a single instance of adulteration and an attempt to rewrite history from Hypernationalists and radicalists point of view.

In this today's India when Hypernationalists Warmongers are creating a atmosphere conducive to rewrite history Bharat Ki Khoj is true to its title and a must be watched by every Indian, it also gives a honest outlook about our PM Nehru whose achievements are being belittled by these rightist goons.

Written by the first Prime Minister of India(Jawaharlal Nehru), directed by the finest of Directors in India(Shyam Benegal), and played by a wonderful cast, this series is definitely a masterpiece,with simple and non-glamorous filming and direction.

The opening song of the series is actually a timeless hymn called Nasadiya Sukta from RigVeda, which talks about the origin of the universe, and ponders about existence/non-existence of God. The uttering of this hymn in chorus along with Vanraj Bhatia's magical music has this strange, almost hypnotic effect.

Also, the wonderful narration by Roshan Seth and Om Puri always keeps you captivated. Though describing 5000 years of rich and complex history of such a large sub-continent in 53 episodes seems impossible, Shyam Benegal has done an excellent job at giving an insight into the history of ancient and modern India through fabulous storytelling and direction.

I strongly recommend this series to anyone interested in Indian History/Religion/Philosophy.

I lived with every character as I went through the episodes. I mourned with Babur on the death of his young son. I celebrated with Akbar when the Mughals won Gujrat. I felt Shivaji's humiliation in the court of Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan's misfortune when French betrayed him.

The actors are amazing. No one could have played their parts better than Om Puri (as Aurangzeb), Kulbhushan Kharbanda (as Akbar), Vijay Arora (as Jahangir), Naseeruddin Shah (as Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj) and one and only Roshan Seth (as Nehru).

I could not complete without praising the wonderful music compositions. Not only the background scores and the title song but also the in- between folk songs that played the most important role in connecting with the viewers.

Hats off to Shyam Benegal for giving us this master piece.

A must watch to all the students and admirers of Indian history.

This is an impressive presentation made in the eighties, of the history of India based on a book. It was and still remains one of the notable TV series of India.

It brings to life the history of India from the earliest times known-- Indus Valley Civilization to the Aryans to the present day India, covering epics like Ramayan, Mahabharat and works of Kalidas.

A huge time span has been depicted on the screen. While making it descriptive, it also maintains the interest of the audience. At the same time it became an informative tool for students to remember the major historical events in chronological order.

There have been tele serials that have lasted longer, that have presented the epics in a greater detail, but none could match the depiction of a detached narrator in the background.

This comment cannot be completed without the mention of the shloka chanted in the series. It was extremely melodious and pioneer-idea. The only other TV series that gives it a competition is "Chanakya", with similar taste in music and art direction.

"Bharat: Ek Khoj" was a small-budgeted non-glamorous project not threatening to sweep away the viewership ratings. However, it turned out to be one of the best made in the Indian TV history.

Shyam Benegal made it dearly. But what still remains uncertain is whether it has all the facts laid right?