Meet the OG desi superheroes

The first five episodes detail the journey of Karna, commander of the Kaurava army, as seen in this painting. Pic/Wikimedia Commons

If you are a '90s kid who grew up in India, chances are that the superheroes you idolised were straight out of your bulky TV sets that had just begun airing the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Karna, Arjun, Ram, Lakshman and Draupadi were among the many idols in Indian mythology who could achieve the impossible, way before Superman, Batman or Captain America became familiar names in desi households. And a new Spotify Original Hindi podcast, Superheroes of Indian Mythology, which launched last week, aims to familiarise the new generation with these desi superheroes, and impart lessons from their lives.

Nitin Kakkar

Nitin Kakkar, the creator, who has voiced characters in the dubbed versions of films such as The Avengers and Star Wars, shares that he always wanted to do something for Indian superheroes. "I felt that we needed to glorify Indian superheroes and talk about them in a relatable manner, while keeping their sanctity intact," he shares, adding that the idea was to make these larger-than-life characters a part of popular culture. "For instance, when we talk about hammers, Thor's Hammer instantly comes to mind. But why not talk about Bhim or Hanuman?" he says.

The podcast adopts a storytelling format, with five episodes dedicated to each hero; till now, the story of Karna and an episode on Lakshman have been released. The 10-minute episodes delve into the tribulations of these heroes through research, and highlight little-known secrets that make them human. For instance, in one episode about Lakshman, the listener gets to know how he wouldn't stop crying after his birth, says Kakkar. "When Lakshman was placed with Ram, he stopped crying. From that day to his last breath, he was by Ram's side," he adds.

Narrated in a casual and engaging way, with the storyteller pausing to explain phrases that TV shows usually gloss over, the episodes make for fun, inspirational content. And we could all do with a dose of motivation now.

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