Creating movies based on Historical elements is one tough bite, ask that to Ashutosh Gowarikar. Considering that as a headstone, it can easily be declared that making TV Serials on the same, is an up gradation from head to tombstone. Now, while saying that, lets also make it quite clear, that we are considering only the high quality productions, not the plastic Mukats and cardboard swords. Jodha Akbar did it, received appreciation, but no miracle at box office. Now, Raj Babbar is doing the same on TV with his serial Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Its already on air and is getting quite favorable reviews. We wish it would run a good length and comes around with good mileage.. for God of Television knows that we need one good show on TV… and more than TV, DD1 needs that.
Here is a Press note released at the launch of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
“I started this project in 2004-05, but I had to face financial constraints along the way. Before Doordarshan (DD), I had also approached some private channels, but they were somewhat hesitant thinking that it was going to cater to a niche market. However, later on, DD and my production reached an agreement on terms and conditions and now the serial will be aired from next week,” Raj Babbar.
“If the public response is encouraging enough, we will make more episodes of the serial,” he said, adding that he had got inspiration to make this serial while making a film on Shaheed Udham Singh.
Babbar said that the series will cover in detail various aspects on the life and time of the Maharaja, also known as Sher-e-Punjab. Advice from noted Sikh scholars was also taken including from Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, he added.
“The serial begins with the tormented period when Nadir Shah raided India in 1739…it will also cover the period from 1792, when the Maharaja’s father Maha Singh anointed him as the ruler. The Sher-e-Punjab died in 1839 ruling a vast kingdom that stretched from Sutlej to Kabul and from Ladakh to Sindh (vast stretches of undivided pre-partion Punjab; Kashmir and Afghanistan),” Babbar said.
The 57-year-old actor would be playing the character when he attains the age of 35 in the series while two different actors would be playing his younger version of the great ruler.
Asked what facet of the Sikh ruler’s life fascinated him the most, Babbar said, “He was a committed secularist, liberal, merciful, judicious, compassionate ruler, who succeeded in establishing a kingdom without any distinction of religion, caste, color and creed. His advisers and generals included people drawn from different religions including Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Christians”. Babbar said that he had earlier wanted to make a film for international audiences after the great ruler and named it ‘Lord of the five Rivers—Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ but the project had to be shelved because the person with whom he had partnered had a change of thought.
It already sounds Epic, doesnt it? Its too early to tell if its living upto its epic proportions or is just a dragon’s breath.. hot at first, ash atb the end. Lets give it a month and we will come back to it again. The show is telecasted every Tuesday 10:00pm and its repeat telecast is shown on every sunday 3:00 PM. (Thanks to Rubinder Kahlon for the timings of repeat telecast)
Juhi and Aarya Babbar
Sukhwinder Singh at the Launch… yup that’s him.
You might Also Like These Articles:
- Naik Channan Singh : A Living Legend
Life gives us many surprises. Some of them are very pleasant. When I with my brother went to this small village Kili near the Pakistan border, I never knew what... - Virsa – Back to the Roots – Punjabi Film
VIRSA Banner: One WorldEntertainment in association with Wize MindzEntertainment Cast : Aarya Babbar (Son of Raj Babbar), Aman Dhaliwal, Gulshan Grover, Mehreen Raheal (Pak Actresses Debute in Punjabi Movies), Kanwaljit Singh, Naumaan... - Fred Holmes’ Film Heartland – Stephan Singh & Amelia Jackson
The shooting of double Emmy winning director Fred Holmes’ crossover movie Heartland was finished in Noorpur Bet, a village near Ludhiana, back in July-August 2009. The movie stars Amelia Jackson...
Tags: Aarya Babbar, Raj Babbar, Sikhism
Wonderful article !!
Yeah, its good to know ke their showing some punjabi histry on channels, but DD1 bahar ni aunda :(
ਬੁਹ੍ਤ ਵਾਧੀਆ ਬਾਜੀ………….ਕਿਰ੍ਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਜਰੂਰ ਦੇਖੋ ਜੀ … ਦੇਖ ਦੇ ਰਹ ਜੋ ਗੇ
bahut wadia ji.
Jyunde rehan punjabi de waris.
Great.
jarur dekhan je appa vi..dd1 te……timmings ki aa show diyan
bahut vadia bobby bhaji article
@param
bhaji eh serial every tuesday 10:00pm te aunda hai and es serial da repeat telecast every sunday 3:00pm te vi hunda hai.
Thanks for the information. I think i will add this info to the article as well.
raj babbar g thankx god bless you.
This is such a wonderful article… I have been watching Maharaja Ranjit Singh on DD 1 since 4 weeks now. Am grateful to Mr Raj Babbar and the people who have done wonders to make this serial. Thanks for bringing this out. We youngters need to know so much abot our history. This serial is unlike many money making episodes\daily soaps which teach you nothing. I am getting to know about my history and culture and people who have lived it. My parents and I watch it every tuesday at 10pm.
Thanks again
Dr. Jas
Thats true, The senseless TV serials/soaps are nothing more than brain wahsers. I havent had the chance to see this TV serial, but it seems to be getting very good viewer ship. Now dont go thinking that i watch other stuff, i just dont watch TV.
Admire your thoughts and work to bring something like this in front of people like us. We needed it. We family members at home wait for sunday 3pm to watch this all together. You must have faced so many problems making this due to budget and all, but hats off!! Only thing is that i desire to watch the whole serial and not interrupted in between. Just hoping for this!! All the very best. Glad you did this for us.
Ravi
Amina Begh… I dislike that kameena begh tooooooooooo much. Sikhs are shown so brave and courageous. They have alwayz been helpful to any and every caste, creed and culture. They have neer tried to force any1 to follow their religion. Good people..
A wonderful ever green sikh history serial . millions, millions and thousands of millions congratulations to our dearest punjabi PUTTAR RAJ BABBAR JI.
great serial….
keepp up d gud work……
god bless you
Lot and lots of THANKS, GOD BLESS U for such a wonderful effort ,a great creative thought as well successfully making it a reality happening.GOD bless you all.One thing i would request you ,do keep reflecting authenticity.I can’t make it why people hype people like a. gowrikar who wrongly potray history as songdance melodrama with a clip as for name of jodha there is dispute and get appreciation ,go check actual records ,for jodha never took on to riding horse to battlefield,terrible.And as someone has said those who used plastic muktas really did an excellent job ,i am refferring to Mr B. R. Chopra , MAHABHARATA,Mr. Sanjay Khan ,marvellous job AKBAR THE GREAT. My BEST WISHES to you and every person associated with this project.GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
One thing i can’t help saying ,Mr. Aryaa Babbar a prefect PUNJABI JATTBOY has done great job in VIRSA ,just improve punjabi a bit ,and do something that is landmark be it a teleserial,potrayal of PUNJAB SCENE (1968-1993,combo of TAPISH,MACCHIS,a bit HAWAAYIEN) .Itz a tough job ,but U PEOPLE CAN DO IT
A lot of best wishes ,
Regards
AULAKH
Sat Sri Akal
every time i watch this serial, i get goose pimples. Its so good to know your history specially for
those who have stayed ot of punjab and don’t know much of their own culture. The efforts that
has been taken by the cast, the director, producer and any and every person linked to its making
needs a pat and appreciation.
More than this small bit of writing, wish there could be something more that could say or do thank
for making this serial and bringing it on small screen. Thanks from my family too :)
A person like me who wants to know about her culture and history and wants to imbibe it but
doesn’t have time to read it has the best possession in the form of this serial.
thanks again
dr jas
I watched it again today
sunday 11am
i wonder why the timings are changed. they are no more showing on tuesdays at 10pm.
i just hope they don’t stop it abruptly.
wishing them luck for continuity.
dr jas
Hello Bobby,
i was just wondering about your creativity, that why not you open a forum in facebook for
maharaja ranjit singh serial like we have for scrubs,seinfield or some others serials.
That would be a great thing to do.
Its just a suggestion as you happen to have knowledge about the history and making of serial.
but you definitely would need time to keep it updated.
good luck
dr jas
Ye, its good to know ke their showing some about Punjabi histry on channels on national channel,
Now i watch every episode…
dekho kivei singh paundei nei mot nu bhajra.
telecast ta vadia par jehrei which bandei dekhaie o ta lagda rab to chori sa landei which bartan walei singh sadei bargei chahidei c dekhlena orkut tei photo………..
maharaja ranjit singh roxxxx…….pathans suck
hi bobby,
we would like to know if the serial is still being played on DD1. it has been removed from
tuesday timings. it is supposed to be played on sundays at 11am.
we have been waiting for two consecutive sundays for it, but alas!!
We would appreciate if you could inform us about the latest change of the telecast
of this serial.
Thanks
jas
this serial is too good that i have not missed a single episode from starting.
But now they are not telecasting it on sundays, have the timing changed. If anyone have any idea plz do inform.