September 15, 09:10Aaj Tak

Users criticize the series 'Suryaputra Karna' for distorting Karna's image compared to the original 'Mahabharata'

The 'Mahabharata' is not just a story; its characters remain deeply ingrained in people's consciousness. This is why when the images of the heroes of the 'Mahabharata' are presented in a new format on television, viewers perceive it as more than just entertainment. Consequently, discussions about the series 'Suryaputra Karna,' which was released in 2015, have reignited, with one of its episodes causing significant resonance.

Viewers are questioning the way Karna is portrayed in the series, calling it an interference with history. In this show, Karna was depicted as a person who was undoubtedly Duryodhana's friend, yet possessed a pure heart and understanding of dharma. Specific questions arise regarding the scene of Draupadi's humiliation, where Karna's image was presented.

In 'Suryaputra Karna,' Karna appears very upset during Draupadi's insult. He is shown as someone who is distressed by this incident. Moreover, in the series, Karna opposes this situation and tries to stop Duryodhana. Thus, on screen, Karna appears as a person forced by circumstances but internally righteous.

This scenario has caused dissatisfaction among users, who began to question whether this portrayal of Karna matched his depiction in the original 'Mahabharata.' If one refers to the original 'Mahabharata,' the picture looks completely different.

By sharing posts, users presented their opinions based on the verses of the 'Mahabharata.' In Chapter 61, 'Saba Parva' of the 'Mahabharata,' dialogues of Karna after Draupadi was brought into the assembly are presented. Here, Karna expresses his view regarding Draupadi being brought into the assembly while clothed. Karna says: 'Manyase va sabhametamanitamekavassam. Adharmeneti tatrapi shrinu me vakumuttram!!'. After this, Karna mentions several of Draupadi's husbands and uses the term 'bandhiki' for her. In the next verse, he even asserts that her bringing into the assembly is not surprising, whether she is clothed or unclothed. Here, Karna's behavior does not look like opposition to Draupadi's humiliation, but rather like justification of this humiliation.

It is this moment that draws criticism from social media users. People argue that 'Suryaputra Karna' has given Karna too much positive coloring, causing almost the second aspect of his character to disappear. In the most controversial episode of the 'Mahabharata' about Draupadi's humiliation, where the original text shows Karna saying harsh things, the television Karna is depicted as sad, helpless, and tearful.

In old online forums, viewers also joked about this approach of the show. Some mocked him by calling Karna 'ever-teary eyed,' while others called him 'ever righteous.' That is, people felt that Karna in the series had become constantly crying and excessively righteous.

Some viewers even questioned whether this was the Karna from the 'Mahabharata' if he always speaks the truth and sides with the Pandavas. Karna was not simply a villain, but...

It is also true that Karna cannot be called just a villain. His character was very complex. He was a great warrior. His friendship and loyalty to Duryodhana are an important part of the 'Mahabharata' story. His life involved struggle, humiliation, and many emotional moments. This is why Karna's image is so interesting: it contains both good and major mistakes.

However, when a character's virtues on television are exaggerated to the point where his flaws disappear, viewers inevitably ask questions.

Television series are certainly granted creative freedom. One cannot say that showing the human side of a character is a mistake. But when it comes to such a sacred text as the 'Mahabharata,' viewers want to know how much the story on screen differs from the original source.

The question raised regarding Karna in 'Suryaputra Karna' is precisely this. Did the creators deprive him of his controversial side to demonstrate Karna's pain and struggle? Because the episode of Draupadi's humiliation in the original 'Mahabharata' and Karna on the television screen show two completely different pictures. And now this question is circulating on social media: was Karna's entire story shown to explain him, or was the color of the story changed to make him a hero?

Similar stories

www.aajtak.inSeptember 11, 06:19

Mahabharata: The Curse Allegedly Affecting Women in Kali Yuga According to Legends

You may have heard jokes about women, but there is an ancient mythological story that explains this concept. According to legend, women were once cursed so that they could not keep secrets. However, the question arises: did such a curse exist? And why was it directed specifically at women? And if it didn't exist, how did this story and perception persist for centuries?

Perhaps the roots of what we perceive today as a joke lie in a very important episode of the Mahabharata. This story is connected to a secret that was revealed after the Mahabharata war and changed the world of the five Pandavas. It was a secret that their mother, Kunti, kept to herself her entire life. When Yudhishthira learned about this secret, his anger and remorse intensified so much that he cursed women. It is said that it is because of this curse that women still cannot keep their secrets.

Imagine this situation: you find out that a person you considered your greatest enemy, with whom you waged war and whose death became your responsibility, is actually your own elder brother. What would you feel then? Something similar happened to the Pandavas. Karna, whom they considered a rival all their lives, turned out to be their elder brother. But the truth came out too late.

Who was Karna?

Karna was Duryodhana's closest friend and fought on the Kaurava side during the Mahabharata war. He was an outstanding warrior, but due to his background, he suffered humiliation his whole life, often being called the son of a charioteer. But how did Karna's story reach such a scale?

The conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas over the throne of Hastinapura constantly escalated. Duryodhana never intended to give up their right to the Pandavas under any circumstances. Then came the game of Chaupar, which changed everything. In this game, full of deceit and cunning, the Pandavas lost their kingdom, wealth, and even Draupadi. In a public assembly, Draupadi was humiliated, and from that moment, the enmity between the two sides grew so much that the Mahabharata war eventually began. The brutal battle continued for 18 days in Kurukshetra, and countless warriors died. In the end, the Pandavas won, but the price of this victory cost the entire Kuru clan.

The Secret Revealed After Karna's Death

On the seventeenth day of the war, Karna fell at the hands of Arjuna. Duryodhana was devastated by the news of the death of his dearest friend, Karna. Meanwhile, when Kunti learned of Karna's death, she could not restrain herself. She came to the battlefield of Kurukshetra to Karna's body, weeping. Her tears hid not only the grief over the loss of a great warrior but also a mother's pain. At that moment, all five Pandavas and Shri Krishna arrived there. Everyone was stunned. There was one question in their minds: why was Kunti's mother grieving so much over the death of Karna, whom they considered their greatest enemy?

They had no idea that in the next moment, the truth that would change their entire world would be revealed.

Karna was the Elder Brother of the Pandavas

Regarding the matter of children, Kunti informed them that Karna was none other than her own son and the elder brother of all five Pandavas. Hearing this truth, the ground fell out from under the Pandavas. They themselves were responsible for the death of the brother against whom they had waged war. Everyone present froze, and regret filled the hearts of the Pandavas. Yudhishthira asked his mother why she had hidden such a big thing from them until now. What was the reason she kept this secret her whole life? Kunti had no answer at that moment except remorse and tears.

Before the war, Kunti and Karna also met in an emotional setting. Kunti did not want her sons to fight each other. Therefore, she approached Karna and told him that he was her son. This shocked Karna. The mother he had searched for his whole life suddenly stood before him. Kunti asked Karna to support the Pandavas. However, Karna replied to his mother that although she gave birth to him, Radha and Adhiratha raised him. Since the whole world humiliated him, Duryodhana gave him respect. Therefore, he could not refuse to support the war. Karna did not change his decision to fight against the Pandavas.

Why Did Yudhishthira Curse Women?

This is why Kunti's grief after Karna's death intensified. When this truth became known to the Pandavas, Yudhishthira's anger and remorse reached a peak. He was upset that if he had known about Karna's birth secret earlier, circumstances might have turned out differently. According to the story, in this anger, Yudhishthira cursed the entire female race along with his mother Kunti. It is said that Yudhishthira declared that women would no longer be able to completely hide any thoughts in their hearts.