Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan & Shri Krishna CC#2 DONE! - Page 109

As a new and revamped Vikram aur Betaal goes on air this morning, Janaki Viswanathan remembers the delight of the original

"Tu bola, main chala"... an entire generation of television viewers knows exactly who said this, and when. And this morning onwards, the much-loved (and feared) white spirit will once more swing onto and off the brave king's back, calling out the same line. As a modern-day version of Vikram aur Betaal, produced by Sagar Arts, hits TV screens today, here's revisiting the 1985 original.

Why mythologicals work
Vikram aur Betaal was the Sagars' first foray into television and the move was discouraged by most well-wishers. But Ramanand Sagar plodded on and the show, directed by his son, Prem Sagar, worked.

Prem Sagar says the reason for its success is that such mythologicals are much more than entertainment. "In our days, when we were thirsty, we preferred Energee to soft drinks. It was nourishing and our parents approved of it. It's the same with our shows. They're not soft drinks. They're milk."

Twenty-four years ago, Vikram aur Betaal aired at 4 pm every Sunday, a hitherto unknown slot which picked up so fast, that "vegetable and fruit vendors organised mini hartals outside our house, Sagar Villa in Juhu, protesting that they had no sales at that time." The lead characters also morphed into boards games like Snakes-n-Ladders, mosquito coil ads etc.

At the end of every episode, the spirit, Betaal, narrates a story to the king, Vikram. At the end of each story, he poses a question. If the king answers it wrong, Betaal is likely to rip his head off. But if he opens his mouth to speak, the spirit flies off to his tree again. This became so popular that betting bookies would beg the Sagars to delay Vikram's answer, so they could make big bucks.

Budget and other horrors
In stark contrast to the computer-graphic-laden new version, back in the eighties, Vikram aur Betaal was shot using two cameras, clouds fabricated out of cotton and a set that was constructed within the family home, Sagar Villa. Every episode had a measly budget of Rs 80,000. "Today," laughs Prem Sagar, "We spend more than 15 times that amount."

The former director recalls an episode which required a fantastical creature, Mahapanchhi. The artiste who had to pose as the bird complete with a feathered costume, was apparently high on drugs. "He dozed off every time the camera came on. Finally, we started cracking eggs right under his nose just as the shot began, so the stench would wake him up. His eyes would grow wide with rage which worked fine for us," guffaws Sagar.

The man behind the spirit
Shiv Sagar, Prem Sagar's son, remembers spending much of his free time on the sets. "The budget was so tight, I remember granddad and dad would shoot an entire episode in just a day." But Sagar junior insists the sight of the white-haired scarlet-mouthed Betaal never scared him because the bhoot, Sajjan Kumar, was a family friend. When Ramanand Sagar and his family fled to Bombay from Lahore during Partition, the patriarch found a job as a playwright for Prithviraj Kapoor.

Sajjan Kumar, an eminent theatre actor and Kapoor's friend, offered to host the Sagars in his Malad home until they could support themselves. "He stood by us when we were refugees. We are indebted to him for life," recalls an emotional Prem Sagar.

Kumar, who passed away nearly a decade ago, had a part to play in every single Sagar Arts production. The actor, reveals Sagar, made several additions to Betaal like the blood-red lipstick, the white make-up for a ghostly effect and the creepy cackling laughter that was a mainstay of the character. "He would get creative during a shot and I always let him be," says Prem Sagar.

Carry me safe
Arun Govil, best known as Lord Rama, played Vikram in the 1985 version. The actor who was once quoted as saying that certain mythological shows should never be remade, insists he is "absolutely cool" with the revamped version of Vikram aur Betaal.

The actor who was also seen in Neena Gupta's soap, Pal Chhin, has now quit the spotlight and is into production. His most vivid memory of Vikram aur Betaal? "Sajjanji being terrified at the start of every episode when I had to haul him on my back. He was always worried that I would drop him," smiles Govil. "I would assure him that he was a senior actor and I would be extremely careful, but he was always nervous. It was like a standing joke on the sets."

Now presenting...
Three things about Vikram aur Betaal will remain the same in the remake: the spirit's lines, "Tu bola, main chala" and "Main tere bas mein aanewala nahin hoon!" and the title track. "The song is the same, 'Vikram Vikram Vikram... Betaal Betaal Betaal,'" sings Prem Sagar, adding that it has a techno beat. Sagar senior is pleased with how his two-and-a-half-year-old grandson has taken to the music. "He heard it once and started humming it!" he beams.

The special effects are of course a lot more advanced, on the lines of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon."

Shiv Sagar has conceived King Vikram as a bare-chested warrior with cutting board abs. "We're in tune with today's audience who are exposed such a lot of cinema and stellar visuals," explains Shiv Sagar, who is creative director.

He is quick to add that the Indianness of the mytho will not be lost a la Ekta Kapoor's Kahaani Hamaarey Mahabharat ki. "Ekta Kapoor went too Greek-Roman with the look of that show (Mahabharat) which diluted the basic story. That won't happen here."

His father says proudly, "Shiv is a gold medallist in hotel management. He reads whatever he can get his hands on that is related to astrology and paraphysics. I don't know how he does such a great job with TV too."

Shiv Sagar has the parting shot, "Ultimately, Vikram aur Betaal has great stories with messages, morals and a riddle at the end of every narration. It worked 24 years ago. It ought to again."