As part of its ongoing programming overhaul, Star India’s second Hindi general entertainment channel Life OK is adding a mythological thriller to its bouquet.
‘Mahadev’, one of the first shows launched by the channel almost three years ago, had a successful run, but eventually the ratings started seeing a dip. The show was slated to go off air much earlier, but it will finally shut on 15 December when the channel replaces ‘Mahadev’ with another big-scale mythological thriller titled ‘Mahakumbh’. The new show will air at 8 pm from Monday to Friday.
Speaking to TelevisionPost.com, Star Network creative consultant Annirudh Pathak said, “The challenge was if we could create a thriller that would consist of much more than action. This show is about solving a mystery in the 21st century. It is an emotional show focused on relationships. It is like a contemporary take on ‘Mahadev’.”
With the tagline ‘Ek Rahasya, Ek Kahani’, ‘Mahakumbh’ will be a seasonal property and the first season will have 120 episodes. The idea is to have it set in different places where the holy ‘kumbh’ happens. Thus, the first season will be set in Allahabad.
After the first season, the channel and producer will develop the next story, stated Pathak. The show is produced and directed by Arvind Babbal.
As the show is set in the real world, the use of computer graphics is much less here than in ‘Mahadev’. However, ‘Mahakumbh’ has been shot in various locations in India and abroad including Poland and other parts of Europe.
Actor Gautam Rode, who was last seen in ‘Saraswatichandra’, will play the lead role in the upcoming series. In the first poster, Rode is seen standing with the group of Naga Sadhus.
The show will unfold an unheard story of a legend with powers unmatchable. Though the main setting is modern, it also mixes contemporary and period drama.
Source: Televisionpost.com
