Mumbai: HistoryTV18 presents an hour-long special documentary ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’that explores the fearsome, mysterious yet benevolent Goddess Kali, Her devotees, festival and the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkatta.
The narrative of the series encompasses the fascinating stories of prominent historical figures. Rani Rashmani, the temple’s visionary builder, who is key to the story. So is Sri RamkrishnaParmhans, the temple’s head priest. Today, he is revered as a saint mystic, whose pluralist ideas were a life-changing influence for Swami Vivekananda. The film is rich in facts and provides insights into mythology, its powerful symbolism and present-day relevance, especially about the representation and position of women in Indian society.
With ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali,’ HistoryTV18 creates a definitive one-hour that shines a light on the mythology and mystique of the fearsome Kali. The clutter-breaking film, available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, aims to interpret and showcase the abiding faith in the ancient tradition of Shakti, in 21st Century India. In doing so, the film delves into surrounding themes of feminism, egalitarianism, inclusiveness and pluralism, as well as issues of identity and belief that bridge the gap between social and economic class, caste, religion, and gender. With genre-defining storytelling, exciting characters and expert opinion, this isn’t just a film about a Goddess and Her magnificent temple. It is the telling of the story of the cycle of creation and destruction, faith, symbolism and cultural truths.
Avinash Kaul, MD A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO Network18 says, “At HistoryTV18, we believe in telling stories that are engaging as well as relevant for our viewers. In keeping with our commitment of raising the bar with each original production, ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ is an absolutely compelling story, told exceedingly well.”
In keeping with the enigma that is Goddess Kali, the festival of Kali Puja is also a joyous fusion of tradition, modernity and inclusiveness. ‘Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ features Kolkata-based music band, Project Maya. The band creates a soundtrack for the occasion, to strike a chord with Kali’s new generation of devotees, giving traditional ShyamaSangeet a millennial makeover.
Dakshineswar: Legends of Kali’ will air on Friday, 25th October, 8 PM on HistoryTV18.