A social experiment by Kunal Basu & Kruti Kothari
Indian mythology takes us into the world of supernatural, divine powers, the cosmos and creation of mankind. It is lot more than just religion or faith. Our connection and fascination with Indian mythology dates right back to our childhood with bedtime stories, comic books, television-shows and movies. Reminiscing those days led to a social experiment of juxtaposing or bringing back some of these mythological characters to the present real world we live in.
As Indians, we worship 330 million gods, goddess, demi-gods, demons, saints... when we wake up; sneeze, before and after we bathe, in sickness, in happiness, celebrations, rather all walks of life. Would it be as magical and fascinating to see these supernatural beings actually walking around us? Will they blend into our day to day mundane lives or stand out as a threat to us and our mortal, expendable life?
What we captured was a revelation for us and those around us. From shock, fascination, amusement to blind faith and mockery, it was a display of facts and reality.
As Indians, we worship 330 million gods, goddess, demi-gods, demons, saints... when we wake up; sneeze, before and after we bathe, in sickness, in happiness, celebrations, rather all walks of life. Would it be as magical and fascinating to see these supernatural beings actually walking around us? Will they blend into our day to day mundane lives or stand out as a threat to us and our mortal, expendable life?
What we captured was a revelation for us and those around us. From shock, fascination, amusement to blind faith and mockery, it was a display of facts and reality.
Indra - In our mythology Indra is the supreme ruler of all the gods. He was the god of war, thunder and storm. He was also the greatest of all the warriors, who fought against all evil and brought about order in the cosmos.
Rambha - Apsaras (the celestial nymphs) were considered the daughters of delight in the celestial world for their bewitching beauty. Rambha was the queen of these Apasaras. She was known for her dancing and love-making skills in the court of Gods. So, in our frame we have tried to capture her dancing stature and her mesmerizing beauty.
Narad Muni - the divine sage who had the ability to visit distant, material as well as spiritual worlds. He played a mediator amongst the worlds he travelled to bring about solutions to problems.
Urvasi - Urvasi was another celestial maiden who was considered the most beautiful amongst all the celestial Nymphs. Urvasi was the only one who fell in love with a mortal called Pururava and was cursed to live with the mankind. Eventually, she gets bored with her mere mortal existence and goes back to her place in the heavens, leaving behind her distraught lover.
Shakuntala - She was the daughter of sage Vishvamitra and Apsara Meneka. Vishwamitra, angered by loss of the virtue gained through his many hard years of strict ascetism, distanced himself from the child and mother to return to his work. And Meneka left her newborn in the forest. When she was born she was surrounded by birds and animals. And she was named Shakuntala from Shakunta in Sanskrit the one who is protected by birds.
Kamdev - He is more popularly known as the God of love across the world. He is a demi -god who is in charge of inciting lusty desires and the cause of procreation.
