CAPTAIN COMIC

Graphic India head Sharad Devarajan's life mission has been to create a sense of wonder through animated stories

- ANJULY MATHA

Immortality, begins Disney+Hotstar's animated show The Legend of Hanuman, means different things to different beings. Some will tear the universe apart to gain its power. But for others, it is about finding the true hero within through faith and hope. This sets the tone for the epic good vs evil battle between Ravan and Lord Hanuman in the series. According to its co-creator Sharad Devarajan, most stories about Hanuman either focus on his impish childhood or his leap to Lanka. But between these two realities lies a rich tale of pathos and profundity. Of a god who is made to forget his own immortality until he truly understands its power and can wield it responsibly.

"Through the show, one of the themes we wanted to explore was the duality of immortality," says Devarajan. "Ravan is craving immortality, but he never had a purpose to his life. This purposelessness made him numb, and the numbness started to take over. The obsession with Sita and everything that led to his downfall was because he was void in his soul. Immortality without purpose is an endless torture. Whereas Hanuman is also immortal, but has this deep connection to Ram. So, his immortality is filled with great purpose, joy, and love."

The show is visually stunning, and imbues the much-loved story of Hanuman with depth and poignancy. Upon its launch in 2021, it became the most watched show across all streaming platforms and has now been renewed for a third season.