Netflix is set to launch “Kurukshetra: The Great War of Mahabharata,” an ambitious animated series that marks one of the platform’s most significant ventures into Indian mythological storytelling to date. This project is not just another adaptation of a well-known story but a modern retelling of the climactic eighteen-day war at the heart of the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata.
The involvement of the legendary poet and lyricist Gulzar, a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, to write the series’ lyrics significantly elevates its artistic status. The inclusion of such a major literary figure, along with marketing language that speaks of a “historic commitment,” are tactics typically reserved for high-budget, live-action dramas. This indicates that Netflix is treating animation as a medium capable of telling serious, epic stories on par with its most acclaimed productions, aiming to attract a discerning audience that might otherwise overlook the animated format.
Through the Eyes of Warriors
The “Kurukshetra” series adopts a distinctive narrative approach to unravel the war’s complexity. Instead of following a traditional linear timeline, the story will unfold through the perspectives of eighteen key warriors, with one character representing each of the eighteen days of the battle. This multi-faceted structure is designed to immerse the viewer in the “emotional intensity and moral complexity” of the conflict. The focus will be on each character’s “internal dilemmas, personal vendettas, and the devastating cost of a war that pits brother against brother.”
This method allows for a deep exploration of the Mahabharata’s central philosophical themes. The series will delve into the collision between dharma (duty, righteousness), destiny, and the moral choices that define each combatant. Promotional material has already highlighted some of these personal conflicts: Arjuna’s anguish at having to fight his own kin and teachers, Draupadi’s quest for justice after her public humiliation, Duryodhana’s unchecked ambition for power, and the tragic wisdom of Bhishma, trapped by an oath. All of this unfolds under the philosophical guidance of the divine figure Krishna.
The series’ structure symbolically mirrors the war itself. It will be released in two parts of nine episodes each, for a total of eighteen episodes that directly correspond to the eighteen days of the Battle of Kurukshetra. This “eighteen warriors, eighteen perspectives” approach is a sophisticated narrative device that aims to make a story of overwhelming scale feel intimate and accessible. While the Mahabharata involves massive armies and dozens of main characters, which could be confusing for a new audience, this method shifts the focus from the what of the war (the grand battles) to the why (the personal motivations and moral costs). It allows for a deeper psychological exploration of complex characters like Karna, Bhishma, and even antagonists like Duryodhana, presenting them not as archetypes of good and evil but as layered individuals, in line with the sensibilities of modern television drama.
Furthermore, the structural symmetry of “eighteen episodes for eighteen days” is more than just a stylistic choice; it’s a narrative commitment that reinforces the thematic resonance. The Kurukshetra War is historically and textually defined by its eighteen-day duration. By dedicating an episode or a significant portion to each day, the series can build a sense of mounting tension, fatigue, and cumulative tragedy. The audience will experience the war’s progression in a structured, day-by-day manner, providing a natural framework for pacing and dramatic climaxes. This structure allows for a detailed focus on crucial events that occurred on specific days, such as the fall of Bhishma, the formation of the Chakravyuha and the death of Abhimanyu, or the final duel between Bhima and Duryodhana.
The Creators
The team assembled for “Kurukshetra” reflects the project’s ambition, combining expertise from the Indian animation industry with creative leadership tasked with forging a new vision. Gulzar’s involvement is perhaps the most powerful indicator of the project’s artistic ambition. A revered figure in Indian literature and cinema, Gulzar is associated with profound poetic sensibility and intellectual seriousness. His role as the official lyricist suggests that music and poetic verse will be integral to the storytelling, not merely an accompaniment. This connects the series to India’s long tradition of oral and musical narration. Attaching a name of his prestige to an animated series instantly grants it a cultural and artistic legitimacy that challenges the perception of animation as a lesser art form. It is a strategic move to attract an adult, sophisticated audience and to signal that this is a serious literary and dramatic adaptation.
The creative team also features an interesting mix of established experience and a fresh perspective. The creator, Anu Sikka, has a strong track record with successful children’s animated series in India like Motu Patlu, suggesting a deep understanding of production pipelines and the local industry. However, the direction and screenplay fall to Ujaan Ganguly, who has been entrusted with delivering the “novel approach” and “distinctive narrative lens” that Netflix is actively promoting. This combination suggests a deliberate strategy: leveraging established industry experience (Sikka) to ensure production viability while empowering a new creative leader (Ganguly) to execute a fresh, modern vision that breaks from the molds of traditional Indian animation.
The Mahabharata for a Modern Audience
For a global audience to fully appreciate the depth of “Kurukshetra,” understanding the context of the Mahabharata is essential. At its core, the epic chronicles a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The conflict pits two branches of the same family against each other: the five Pandava brothers and their one hundred cousins, the Kauravas. Although the Kauravas are from the senior branch of the family, their eldest, Duryodhana, is younger than Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, creating a dispute over the right of succession.
The path to war is marked by a series of events that establish the deep emotional and moral motivations for the conflict. A pivotal moment is the infamous game of dice, where the Pandava king, Yudhishthira, is tricked by his uncle Shakuni and loses not only his kingdom but also his brothers, himself, and their shared wife, Draupadi. The public humiliation of Draupadi in the Kaurava court, where she is dragged and an attempt is made to disrobe her, is an act of adharma (injustice) so egregious that it sparks vows of vengeance from the Pandavas, sealing the fate of many involved.
After losing the game, the Pandavas are sentenced to twelve years of exile and an additional year to be spent in hiding. Upon their return, they request their kingdom back, but a defiant Duryodhana refuses to grant them even the amount of land that could fit on the tip of a needle. This refusal is the final trigger that makes war inevitable.
The site of the battle, Kurukshetra, is not just a battlefield but a Dharmakshetra, a “field of righteousness.” This concept is vital, as it frames the war not as a simple struggle for power but as a Dharmayudh, a just war to restore moral order and dharma to the world. Caught in this conflict are legendary figures like Bhishma, the family’s great-patriarch, and Drona, the weapons master to both sides, who, despite their affection for the Pandavas, are bound by duty and loyalty to fight for the Kauravas.
At the heart of the narrative is the relationship between the Pandava warrior Arjuna and his charioteer and spiritual guide, Krishna. On the eve of battle, overwhelmed by the prospect of fighting his own family, Arjuna hesitates. It is at this moment that Krishna imparts the teachings compiled in the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical discourse on duty, action, and the nature of existence that has become one of the world’s most important spiritual texts.
The centrality of dharma is therefore the story’s thematic engine. The epic does not present a simplistic narrative of good versus evil. It explores the gray areas of morality: noble characters who fight on the “wrong” side out of a sense of duty, and the Pandavas themselves, who must at times break the rules of war to achieve a just victory. This focus on moral ambiguity is what makes the story “relevant today,” as its creators claim, and appealing to a modern audience accustomed to anti-heroes and complex character motivations.
An Epic for a New Generation
“Kurukshetra: The Great War of Mahabharata” represents a bold and ambitious effort to translate one of the world’s great epics into a new medium for a new era, merging ancient wisdom with contemporary narrative techniques.
“Kurukshetra: The Great War of Mahabharata” premieres globally, only on Netflix. The first part will be available to stream on October 10.
