Reading Notes: Peter Brook Mahabharata Part D
This part of the story ends with the Pandavas and Draupadi in Virata's court. They all go into hiding there. Virata's general finds Draupadi beautiful and wants her for himself. Draupadi manages to escape and finds Bhima. Then Bhima tricks the general and kills him. This luckily happens at the end of the exile period, and so they're able to safely reveal themselves. They then turn to leave to take back what is there. Virata asks Yudhisthira about what will happen, and Yudhisthira makes a very dark premonition.
Krishna goes to the palace to try one last attempt to make peace. It doesn't go very well. They try to take Krishna captive (why?) but they're stopped. Before Krishna leaves, he decides to have a talk with Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. They prepare for war. Draupadi sends Yudhstrhitra off. The two armies meet and discuss the rules for war. Yudhisthira asks for permission to strike at Bhisma and Drona. They give it. Arjuna makes ready to give the signal to fight, but suddenly he grows weak as he realizes that he'll have to fight against family. He and Krishna give a very long talk about things and the two armies just sit there. There was a battle in his heart, while Krishna gave a long pep talk. Krishna reveals his divine form to Arjuna, and talks about how he has already defeated these warriors. Arjuna climbs back on his chariot, and the battle starts. Bhisma kills left and right, then asks people to stop because the day is over, and that is where this part of the film ends.
I'm actually enjoying this version of the story. You get a bit more of a background into some of the characters. I can definitely tell in some scenes that this was originally a play rewritten to be a movie. It works pretty well though. I think the cast is doing a pretty good job with it, I'm not sure how old this film is.
Bibliography. "Mahabharata" by Peter Brook. Web Source.
Krishna goes to the palace to try one last attempt to make peace. It doesn't go very well. They try to take Krishna captive (why?) but they're stopped. Before Krishna leaves, he decides to have a talk with Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. They prepare for war. Draupadi sends Yudhstrhitra off. The two armies meet and discuss the rules for war. Yudhisthira asks for permission to strike at Bhisma and Drona. They give it. Arjuna makes ready to give the signal to fight, but suddenly he grows weak as he realizes that he'll have to fight against family. He and Krishna give a very long talk about things and the two armies just sit there. There was a battle in his heart, while Krishna gave a long pep talk. Krishna reveals his divine form to Arjuna, and talks about how he has already defeated these warriors. Arjuna climbs back on his chariot, and the battle starts. Bhisma kills left and right, then asks people to stop because the day is over, and that is where this part of the film ends.
I'm actually enjoying this version of the story. You get a bit more of a background into some of the characters. I can definitely tell in some scenes that this was originally a play rewritten to be a movie. It works pretty well though. I think the cast is doing a pretty good job with it, I'm not sure how old this film is.
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| Krishna and Arjuna |
Bibliography. "Mahabharata" by Peter Brook. Web Source.
Hi Jackie, I just happened to see your post, and I am so glad you like this film. It came out 30 years ago in 1989. I know that because I saw it when it aired on public television that year, and it changed my life! I didn't know anything about India before that. Literally: nothing. I just happened to turn on the TV that evening and was mesmerized by that show. And here I am 30 years later! And Peter Brook is still alive (he's in his 90s), still working; he did a new Mahabharata-inspired play just a few years ago: A Guilt-Ridden Winner Takes Center Stage In Peter Brook's 'Battlefield'.
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