Will Star Plus's upcoming big ticket fantasy show Aarmabh be the small screen’s answer to Bahubali? Writer K. V. Vijayendra Prasad, who has also penned Bahubali, Bajrangi Bhaijan & Bahubali2 certainly feels so. This story based on six characters traces the Aryan Dravidan conflict, which led to the end of the matriarchal system in  India.

 “I never liked man - woman story which dominates desi tv. I was also impressed by Game of Thrones, which has a mish mash of  complex characters interacting with each other.  Plus the fact that  India has been blessed  with huge mytho which gave me lot to borrow from when I began to write", said Prasad. 
 

On the question of budgets, which bedevil most big shows of this genre, he says,“ Luckily when producers ( Rose   Audio  Video) took me to meet Star Plus officials, they gave me a free hand as far as the budget was concerned. I was asked to let my imagination fly.”
 

Are you not afraid that TRP pressures will force you to change the story line of this bi- weekly week end show? "Every writer worth his salt should believe in his/her  story. You should introspect by loving & living  your characters. Once  you  do so, the ratings will come automatically,  they have to.  Ditto with Bahubali, the producer betted crores on my  vision. I did not write thinking about BO, rather followed  my heart and  today the film has grossed over 600 crores  worldwide. Rest assured limited series Aarambh (64 episodes), will be the biggest show  on  Indian TV. But yes I will need to write with my conscience, which  the director Goldie Behl will need to execute  to the best of his ability to make people love the show.”

 

The cast includes Rajniesh Duggall and south actress Karthika Nair as leads. It also marks the TV debut  of yesteryears film  herone Tanuja Mukerji, who essays the role of an oracle .

- Anil Merani