With Porus, Indian Television Is Trying to Create the Big Screen Effect of Baahubali and the Small Screen Wonder of Game of Thrones
TO BE TRANSPORTED BACK TO 300 BC and see Macedonia, Paurav rashtra and Takshashila, all one has to do is to head to Umbergaon. It’s in this small town in the Valsad district of Gujarat, known for its beach and produce of chikoo, that Swastik Productions has chosen to build the sets for Porus, a historical show that revisits the epic battle of Hydaspes (the Greek name for the river Jhelum) between Paurava king Porus aka Por or Purushottam and Alexander the Great aka Sikander in 326 BC. According to Danish Khan, executive vice president of Sony, the brief is to make a show to recreate “the golden age of Indian history on the small screen”. Five weeks into the show, the BARC ratings have averaged 1.0, far behind chart-topping shows such as Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Star Plus), Kumkum Bhagya (Zee TV) and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma (SAB TV), which garner ratings 3 and above. But Khan says, “We never expected to be on top in the first few weeks. We wanted four weeks to establish the show and gradually develop it. The real action will start now.”
A TRYST WITH HISTORY
This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 12, 2018 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated