Porus (TV series)

Last updated

Porus
Porus Titlecard.png
Genre
Created by Siddharth Kumar Tewary
Screenplay bySiddharth Kumar Tewary
Story by
  • Siddharth Kumar Tewary
Starring
ComposersSangeet Haldipur
Siddharth Haldipur
Suryaraj Kamal
Lenin Nandi
Raju Singh
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes299
Production
ProducersSiddharth Kumar Tewary
Rahul Kumar Tewary
Gayatri Gill Tewary
Production location Thailand [1]
CinematographyKabir Lal
EditorsJanak Chauhan
Anil Vaishya
Camera setup Multi-camera
Production companyOne Life Studios
Budget500 crore (US$60 million)
Original release
Network Sony Entertainment Television
Release27 November 2017 (2017-11-27) 
13 November 2018 (2018-11-13)
Related
Chandragupta Maurya

Porus is a historical drama television series based on the Battle of the Hydaspes, visualizing the lives of Porus, ruler of the Paurava Kingdom in India, and Alexander the Great, the king of Macedonia. It aired from 27 November 2017 till 13 November 2018 on Sony Entertainment Television. Another historical drama Chandragupta Maurya replaced it.

Contents

The show was created by Siddharth Kumar Tewary of Swastik Productions. [2] [3] It is the most expensive show on Indian television, having a budget of about INR 500 crores (roughly US$63 million). [4]

Plot

Story of Porus (Puru)

In 350 BCE, A Persian trader, Darius enters India intending to conquer it due to its wealth and prosperity. Two rival Indian kingdoms, the Pauravas (of the Puru tribe) and Takshashila (of the Bharat tribe) decide to end their enmity with a political marriage of the king of the Paurava Kingdom, Bamni and Anusuya, the younger sister of Ambhiraj, the king of Takshashila. Unlike her brother Ambhiraj, who cares only for his kingdom, Anusuya dreams of a united India. Bamni reveals that he married Anusuya to avenge his elder brother and Prime Minister, Shivdutt's insult by Ambhiraj which leaves her heartbroken. However Darius manipulates her by telling her to avenge her insult by attacking the Paurav Kingdom with Ambhiraj's help. Anusuya tells his intention to Bamni who doesn't believe her. Later, Bamni realizes his mistake and starts afresh with Anusuya. They oust Darius from the kingdom. Anusuya becomes pregnant and the astrologer says that their son will be the future of this country and bring honor to the ancestors.

Later Darius conspires with Ambhiraj and Shiv Dutt, breaks the peace between the two kingdoms, and forces Anusuya to flee. During her escape, she gives birth to a son, Porus (native name Purushottam, nicknamed Puru). Shiv Dutt tries to kill Anusuya and Porus by throwing them in River Jhelum. However, the Commander-in-Chief of the Paurava Kingdom, Ripudaman saves Porus and raises him in the Dasyu Kingdom, made up of pirates. Meanwhile, Darius (who later becomes the emperor of Persia) manipulates Bamni into becoming his trade partner to gradually steal India's wealth, leaving a heavy Persian influence on the Paurava Kingdom. On Shiv Dutt's suggestion, Bamni marries Kadika, the sister of Shiv Dutt's right-hand man and Paurava general. Samar Singh. and has a son, Kanishk.

20 Years later

Porus grows up and is in love with Laachi, the princess of the Dasyu Kingdom, and goes to the Paurav Kingdom for a mission. He meets his mother Anusuya who survives the fall but loses her memory. Unaware of their relationship, Porus helps her and escapes from the Paurav Kingdom but Laachi's brother Sumer is trapped and imprisoned. Darius returns to Paurav Kingdom with his daughter Barsine. Porus goes back and confronts Bamni for killing Anusuya which was a false rumor spread by Darius. Anusuya tells Porus the truth of his lineage and the entire family is reunited. Bamni imprisons Shivdutt as a result of attempting to murder Anusuya and Porus. Later, Darius kills off Ripudaman which makes Porus hate Bamni. Anusuya tells Porus her entire story and Porus takes an oath to drive Darius out of India. Later, Porus was declared a traitor for attacking Kanishk which Hasti, Ripudaman's son, does to retaliate against Porus. Porus flees, goes to Takshashila, and visits his uncle Ambhiraj to attack the Paurav Kingdom with a hidden intention to end the two kingdoms' enmity. Porus is betrayed by Ambhiraj who had joined hands with Darius and attacks the Paurav Kingdom. Darius plans to capture the kingdom and plans Barsine's marriage with Kanishk which is interrupted by Ambhiraj. Anusuya and Porus tell the entire truth to Bamni revealing Darius's true face to everyone including Hasti. Porus tells the meaning of unity, which unites Takshashila, Pauravas, and Dasyus and drives Darius from India. Shivdutt is released and regains his position.

Porus is declared as the Crown Prince much to Kanishk and Shiv Dutt's disappointment as he detests Takshashila and does not want the half-Takshashilan Porus to succeed Bamni. During Porus's crown prince coronation, he learns of Alexander and the future danger. Porus learns that Alexander has attacked Persia and Barsine requests his help. Porus, Laachi, Hasti, and Ambhikumar, Ambhiraj's son, go to Persia and meet Alexander and challenge him to attack India.

Shiv Dutt conspires to kill Porus but Bamni learns of the conspiracy and declares him a traitor. Shivdutt overthrows Bamni and installs Kanishk as king and imprisons Bamni and Anusuya. Shivdutt insults Anusuya and imprisons her in a brothel. Shivdutt stabs Bamni and Porus and his aides escape from there and take help from Vishnugupta Chanakya, a renowned teacher from Takshashila. However, Porus soon retakes the Paurava kingdom with the help of Chanakya, saves Anusuya, kills off Shiv Dutt, and imprisons Kanishk. Considering Porus more worthy than himself, Bamni willingly renounces the throne and Porus becomes king of the Paurava Kingdom.

Story of Sikander (Alexander)

In 350 BCE, Queen Olympias of Macedonia insults King Philip, resulting in the latter raping her. To avenge this insult, Olympias proclaims their son, Alexander, as the son of Zeus (King of the Greek Gods) who will rule India.

20 Years later

Alexander grows up to be an ambitious, as well as respectful, prince and proves his skills in a battle. His half-brother Arrhideaus is made a mad person by Olympias. Philip marries Cleopatra Eurydice of Macedon, and denies Alexander the throne, saying that his and Cleopatra's son will be his successor. This leaves Alexander heartbroken and vengeful. Cleopatra Eurydice gives birth to a daughter, and also Philip decides to wed his daughter Cleopatra of Macedon to Alexander I of Epirus. They wed, however, Philip is soon assassinated by Pausanias on Alexander's command, making Alexander the new king. Olympias and Alexander also murder Cleopatra of Eurydice, her infant daughter, Arrihdeaus' mother Philinna, and Cleopatra's father Attalus. Arrhideaus is spared by Alexander due to his insanity. Alexander soon becomes a ruthless ruler, conquering many kingdoms, including Persia, resulting in the death of Darius, and marries Barsine, Darius's daughter, and Roxanne (Rukhsana), Princess of Bactria.

Porus' and Sikandar's meeting and aftermath

During Porus's trip to Persia, he meets Alexander and challenges him to come to India and go back to Paurav Kingdom. Alexander arrives in India, vassalising Ambhiraj and thus capturing Takshashila. Porus, who was in Takshashila at that time after escaping from the Paurav Kingdom with Bamni who was injured by Shivdutt, escaped from there safely along with Chanakya and made an act of Porus being dead. Chanakya invites Alexander to Porus's coronation ceremony and visits the Paurav Kingdom Alexander is shocked to see Porus alive and pledges to take revenge for this insult. Kanishk escapes imprisonment and he and Sumer ally with Alexander.

Alexander declares war with the Pauravas which lasted for months. On Porus and Laachi's marriage, Kanishk's men interrupt the ceremony, and Anusuya kills Sumer as she learns of his betrayal. Laachi asks for justice from Porus. Kanishk later tells the truth to Porus and Bamni which proves Anusuya innocent but is killed by Alexander. Dasyus allies with Alexander to attack Pauravas but later realizes their mistake and goes back to Paurvas but Laachi's mother, Mahanandini is killed off. Chanakya kidnaps Olympia and brings her to Paurav Kingdom. She performs black magic on Porus and Anusuya but fails in her attempts due to which she is on her deathbed but is saved by Chanakya. Alexander learns of Olympia's abduction and attacks Pauravas on both sides with the help of Ambhiraj. Ambhiraj kills off Anusuya and Porus takes revenge by killing Ambhiraj after which his son Ambhikumar and his mother become his enemies.

Both sides suffer heavy losses during the war, with Porus losing Bamni and Hasti. Eventually, Alexander is victorious in the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BCE and captures Porus, but impressed by Porus's bravery, he returns his kingdom to him, ends his campaign, and starts his journey back to Macedonia. Porus and Laachi has a son, Malayketu. On his way back to Macedonia, Alexander dies under mysterious circumstances in Babylon in 323 BCE leaving behind Roxanne who was pregnant. The same year, Porus and Laachi are assassinated in a group attack by Ambhiraj's vengeful son Ambhikumar and Alexander's former general Seleucus, though Malayketu survives. In his final moments, Porus entrusts the future of India to Chanakya.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Reception

The show was hailed as 'visually captivating' by India Today . [36]

Pinkvilla called it the television version of the film Baahubali . [37]

Sequel

Porus, being a finite series went off-air on 13 November 2018. Even before the end of the series, production house Swastik Pictures decided to tell the story of Chandragupta Maurya through a new show on Sony TV which replaced Porus and aired on the same time slot. Many key characters of Porus like Chanakya, Dhananand, Seleucus Nicator, Amatya Rakshas reprised their roles in the new show with the same actors portraying them. The new show Chandragupt Maurya was in seamless continuity with the ending of Porus. It went on-air on 14 November 2018 and off-air on 30 August 2019 after completing its story. Sourabh Raj Jain, who portrayed the character of Dhana Nanda in Porus reprised the role, whereas Tarun Khanna reprised his role of Chanakya and Nimai Bali as Amatya Rakshas. [38]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2018Lions Gold AwardsFavorite Actress of the Year (Critics) [39] Rati Pandey Won
Favorite Actor of the Year [39] Laksh Lalwani Won
2018Asian Academy Creative AwardsBest Telenova/Soap [40] One Life StudiosWon
2018Asian Academy Creative AwardsBest VFX [40] One Life StudiosNominated
2018Asian Academy Creative AwardsBest Theme Song [40] Porus Nominated
2018Indian Telly Technical AwardsBest VFX [41] One Life StudiosWon
2018Indian Telly Technical AwardsBest Costumes [41] Ketki DalalWon
2018Indian Telly Technical AwardsBest Director [41] Siddharth Kumar Tewary Won
2018Indian Telly Technical AwardsBest Screenplay Writer [41] Siddharth Kumar Tewary, Medha JadavWon
2018Indian Telly Technical AwardsBest Sound(Fiction) [41] Raghu HegdeWon
2019Asian Television AwardsBest Actor in a Leading Role [42] Laksh Lalwani Nominated
2019Asian Television AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role [42] Rohit Purohit Nominated
2019Asian Television AwardsBest Director [43] Siddharth Kumar Tewary Won

See also

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