Thursday, December 29, 2010 @ 8:40 PM
Dear Diary,
Today we watched Episodes 22 & 23, which covered the end of Makhan Chori Krishna's phase and the beginning of Ashok Balakrishnan's. Episode 22 starts off with the scene where Shri Krishna takes Radharani to the banks of river Yamuna and Radhaji says Yamuna runs by Barsana as well. It was interesting to find out the reason Radha and Krishna did not get married, that it was the result of Shridhama's curse that they remain separated for 100 year. But it did not explain why Shridhama gave the curse to them, so if anyone knows, please do tell me.😳 The song which comes during this scene was also nice, and both child Radha and Krishna looked so cute in their Godly forms...Radhaji in particular looked very divine and pretty, though Krishna looked a bit shy and uncomfortable in his dressy outfit.😆
One of my favorite Krishna Leela stories came soon after, the fruit seller! This episode was just amazing, really soooo divine and beautifully done.😍 The lady who played the fruit seller (also Shabri from Ramayan) and the child who played Krishna enacted this scene really really well, starting with the woman's entry to the cute hug Krishna gives. All the affection and sincerity in the scene makes us feel as if we're watching the story straight as it happened in the Bhagawatham.😍
When the fruit seller attempts to sell her fare and no one buys anything from her, and then the part where she dismally tells Krishna that she cannot take him onto her lap because of her low caste....everything about her expressions was just heartbreaking.🥺 I really really felt sooo bad for the poor woman despite knowing the divine outcome of this story. My favorite part about this episode was when Krishna tells her that in the Kingdom of God, one's caste, profession, gender, etc does not matter at all...only their bhakti.😍 The child gave this dialogue really well and you could sense sincerity and innocense in his manner of talking and action....the way he runs down the courtyard to give her grains of rice but ends up with only a few kernels in his hand.....everything seemed straight out of the Bhagawatham.❤️ And the Heere Moti Daan Me De song was also very nice and perfectly tuned for the scene.👏 Jai Shri Krishna!
Next episode is the last one with Makhan Chori Krishna....Vastra Haran of the Gopis. Though the above picture from Sagar World shows Ashok, the actual episode had the Makhan Chori Krishna enact this scene (sorry, don't know his name).....and though I said this for every one of his scenes....it was his best one.😍 It was very meaningful and so full of warmth and sincerity....really really really well directed by RS and superbly acted by the child and his friends.👏👏👏👏 My favorite friend of Krishna's is the one who walks with a stick...I think his name was Mansukha or something. He was so amusing and cute in every one of his dialogues😆😆, and he seemed the most loyal of all the friends.
This episode is another great favorite of mine because this story in general is a controversial one in Shri Krishna's life. When people criticize Krishna, they bring up this incident over and over again, and call him all sorts of ugly names which really make me shrivel up with disgust.🤢 I don't want to repeat any of those comments here, but watching this epi made me think....those people should watch this scene since a lot of them never 'waste time' reading the scriptures like the Bhagawatham or whatnot as it does not interest them, or they do not believe in them to be the word of God. But then again....if someone's faith is so shaky that serials can make them like or dislike Gods, it is doubtful just how long their faith can last, because faith comes from our heart...from our love and devotion to God...and only that love and devotion makes us engrossed in these mythological serials, these actors, songs, and anything else that makes the mytho serial special for us. I do not believe faith can be molded by earthly objects...but then again, that is a whole different subject altogether and many here many not agree with me.😳 And also...I'm deviating from the topic.😆
Anyhow, as I was saying, I honestly believe Ramanand Sagarji handled this scene really well, because he subtly addressed all those criticisms Lord Krishna constantly receives from disbelievers by making his Krishna lecture the Gopis on why he stole their clothing. Leaving aside Krishna's whole 'don't you dare tattletale on me to Ma again' issue, the fact that the Gopis' bathing in the river naked is against morality, and that he stole their clothing to teach them the lesson of modesty....it was all explained so beautifully that it also clarifies to us why Krishna stole their clothing.😍 Also, the fact that he was a mere child when he did that is so conveniently forgotten by criticizers.🤓
Anyhow, I found a nice HQ video of this scene on youtube for those who haven't seen SK....if you would like, do watch this episode as you'll love to pieces just like I did.😃 The cute amusing scenes in this vid, where Krishna makes the Gopis tug on their ears and take 'gunjis' (that's what we call those little exercises in Telugu) as paschyataap was hilarious.🤣 The pouts on the Gopis' faces were also cute....though I personally felt that some of them looked a bit full of themselves (esp the one who comes on 10:28...I really do not like her).🤔 If only Krishna broke their pride also (if they did have it) like he did Radharani's later on. But then again, maybe it was just the actresses and the actual Gopis were alright.😆
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7HnCrzlCjs[/YOUTUBE]
And so that concludes the Makhan Chori phase and Shri Krishna grows up....giving the serial a new actor as well: Ashok Balakrishnan. He is one of my favorite Krishnas in this serial, as he was very sincere looking and enacted both his most imp scenes of Govardhan Dhari and Kaliya Naag Nritya very well.👏 I esp loved his entro scene where he takes the cows grazing with Balram. Of course, he is actually first introduced when Yashoda Maiyya wakes him up with the 'Jaago Maiyya Ke Pyaare' song, but we get to see him in real action when he sets off with Balram, his friends, and the cows. The settings of Gokul at this point are really sooooooooo beautiful, and I think all of you know by now just how obsessed I am with the tune of the flute which comes during this scene.😍 It was first introduced by Dhanwa, the flute Guru of Krishna during the Makhan Chori phase, but it was played most during Ashok's role as Krishna and then once or twice with Swapnil (during the Radharani's pride episode). Here is the vid for anyone who wants to see it...there's no dialogue, just the beautiful melodious tune of the flute, but believe me, you'll feel yourself drowning in it in no time.❤️
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRhpOYTdGbo&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
This scene is followed by Bakasur's Vadh (aaaargh, Kans is back!😡😆) and then Aghasur's Vadh. Both scenes were filmed well, and though the monster costumes they used looked sooooo fake (even our halloween costumes were/are scarier😆), Ashok's acting and the story/scene itself made up for the poor technology. I especially liked seing Aghasur's Vadh because it gave the background story of Rishi Astavakra's curse...these background stories really teach you a lot.👏 The patience the sage showed while Aghasur continuously laughed at him....it was really very aplaudable and made us wonder just how patient we ourselves would have been with that man. But the curse was inevitable...and as usual it is always comforting when hearing these stories, because when such great sins were forgiven by Lord Vishnu, it gives us hope that with true paschyataap, the bad Karma we do everyday too will be forgiven.😳 But it is easier said than done with the faults and temptations of today's society...often times, even with paschyataap we must do a lot of good Karma to erase our bad.
Here is the vid of Astavakra's curse for those who want to see it.😊
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGqK5ijTjII&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
And that basically ends Episode 23 of SK...of course, there were a few Kans scenes here and there, but they basically consisted of him summoning Bakasur and Aghasur, getting into a few rages, and letting out his usual hyena laughter, nothing really memorable or important.😆
So.....will write about the Kaliya Mardan scene in my next entry....till then...
Jai Shree Krishna!
Love,
Janu
Edited by JanakiRaghunath - 13 years ago
