Kurukshetra Part 1 Review: Netflix’s Darkest Mahabharata Retelling With Gulzar Saab’s Voice That Makes You Feel The Fire Of Dharma & Karma
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
Platform: Netflix
Genre: Mythological Drama / Animated Epic
Language: Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada
Episodes: 9 (Approx. 30 minutes each)
Cast (Voice Artists): Vinod Sharma, Sahil Vaid, Saumya Daan, Annamaya Verma, Manoj Pandey, Himanshu Rana, Neha Gargava, Neshma Chemburkar, Pawan Kalra, Krutarth Trivedi
Creator: Anu Sikka
Director: Kaushik Ganguly & Ujaan Ganguly
Narration: Gulzar Saab
Intro: Jab Mahabharata Ki Mitti Phir Se Gungunai!
“Ant hi Antim hai, Neeche Bhoomi, Upar Nakshatra Hai, Ye Kurukshetra Hai!” —
Yeh line sunte hi goosebumps aa jaate hain! Netflix ne apni nai animated web series “Kurukshetra Part 1” ke saath Mahabharata ke 18 din ke yudh ko ek naye andaaz mein dikhaya hai — dark, philosophical aur emotional.
Sabse khaas baat? Gulzar Saab ke deep aur soulful narration ke saath yeh series ek poetic kahani ban jaati hai — jahan har character apni ladaai ladh raha hai, bas talwaron se nahi, andar ke “dharma aur karma” se bhi.
Story: 18 Din, 18 Yoddha – Ek Mahayudh, Kai Kahaniyan
Netflix ki Kurukshetra Part 1 ek bold reinterpretation hai Mahabharata ki — jisme kahani batayi gayi hai 18 different warriors ke nazariye se. Har episode ek naye warrior ki kahani batata hai, ek naye din ka war aur ek naye moral conflict ke saath.
Shuruaat hoti hai Draupadi ke intense dialogue se –
“Paanch paanch patiyon ki patraani, jise khel khel mein daasi bana diya, use aur kya dena shesh hai Maharaj?”
Bas yahi emotion puri series ka mood set kar deta hai — revenge, guilt, and destiny ke beech ek intense war of minds and morals.
Series ke pehle 9 episodes cover karte hain yudh ke pehle 9 din, jahan hum dekhte hain —
Sanjay, Vishwaroop, Bhishma, Dronacharya, Abhimanyu, Jayadrath, Arjun, Ghatotkach, aur Yudhishthir ke perspectives.
Each one brings a new angle, a new heartbreak, and a new question on what “right” and “wrong” truly mean.
Narration & Voice Acting: Gulzar Saab Steals The Show
Let’s be honest — Gulzar Saab is the real hero here.
Unki awaaz sirf narration nahi, ek “atma” hai jo poori series ko jod kar rakhti hai. Jab woh “karma”, “dharma”, aur “yudh ke niyam” ke baare mein bolte hain, toh lagta hai jaise Mahabharata khud bol rahi ho.
However, Gulzar ke alawa, baaki voice actors thode average lagte hain.
Characters jaise Krishna, Arjun, Draupadi aur Karna deserve karte the thoda aur depth aur emotion. Star power ki kami yahan mehsoos hoti hai, kyunki animation ke andar awaaz hi sab kuch hoti hai.
Direction & Writing: Kaushik Ganguly’s Brave Vision
Director Kaushik Ganguly (aur unke son co-director Ujaan Ganguly) ne ek bohot daring decision liya hai – Mahabharata ko linear way mein nahi, balki fragmented warrior stories ke through dikhane ka.
Ye storytelling ka style unique hai — ek anthology jaisa structure, jahan har episode ek moral puzzle hai.
Har character ke saath ek psychological depth milti hai:
- Bhishma ke liye loyalty aur guilt ke beech struggle,
- Abhimanyu ke liye youth aur bravery ka tragic clash,
- Dronacharya ke liye guru aur rajneeti ke beech ki uljhan,
- Arjuna ke liye dharma aur duty ke beech ka internal war.
Anu Sikka ka concept aur Ganguly duo ka direction milke ek mature mythological retelling create karta hai — jahan focus hai characters ke internal conflicts pe, na ki sirf battlefield pe.
Concept: Mahabharata Beyond Pandavas & Kauravas
Most Mahabharata shows revolve around Pandavas vs Kauravas, Draupadi’s insult, aur Krishna ke preachings.
But Kurukshetra goes beyond the basics — it dives into the grey areas.
Yahan koi bilkul “hero” ya “villain” nahi hai. Sab apne “justifications” ke saath lad rahe hain.
Isliye, series ek philosophical mirror ban jaati hai jahan har viewer apne perspective se decide karega — who was right?
Animation Quality: Decent But Could’ve Been More Polished
Animation ke level par, Kurukshetra ek impressive attempt hai Indian animation standards ke hisaab se.
Scale bada hai, war scenes visually appealing hain, aur lighting + background tone ek dark intensity create karta hai.
However, kuch jagah par detailing thodi weak lagti hai — facial expressions aur body movements mein thoda stiffness dikhta hai.
Lekin considering Indian mythological animation space, it’s still one of the best-looking animated series we’ve seen till date.
Music & Sound Design: Epic Feels, But Voice Balance Missing
Background score perfectly match karta hai war ke mood ke saath.
Epic drums, sitar, aur orchestral tones ka use brilliant hai.
Sound design me sirf ek chhoti complaint — dialogue aur BGM ka balance thoda off lagta hai kabhi kabhi, jisse kuch lines clearly sunai nahi deti.
Still, Gulzar Saab ke narration ke saath, music ek spiritual aura create karta hai — jaise Ramdhun aur war drums ek saath baj rahe ho!
What Works (Pros):
✅ Unique storytelling format – 18 perspectives = fresh approach
✅ Gulzar Saab’s narration – heart and soul of the series
✅ Deep philosophical writing – “dharma vs karma” theme hits hard
✅ Impressive animation & world-building
✅ Massive scale for Indian animation
✅ Emotional connection with characters – especially Bhishma, Abhimanyu, Arjun
What Doesn’t Work (Cons):
❌ Weak voice casting (except Gulzar Saab)
❌ Pacing issues in a few middle episodes
❌ Facial animation lacks fluidity
❌ Some dialogues feel over-dramatic
❌ Krishna’s presence is underwhelming – expected more depth
Memorable Dialogues:
“Paanch paanch patiyon ki patraani, jise khel khel mein daasi kar diya…” – Draupadi
“Yudh mein koi jeetkar bhi haar jaata hai, aur koi haar kar bhi jeet jaata hai.” – Gulzar Saab
“Ant hi Antim hai, Neeche Bhoomi, Upar Nakshatra Hai, Ye Kurukshetra Hai.” – The tagline that defines the entire show
Symbolism & Themes:
Kurukshetra Part 1 ek symbolic journey hai —
- Guilt (Yudhishthir),
- Revenge (Draupadi),
- Loyalty (Bhishma),
- Destiny (Arjun),
- Sacrifice (Abhimanyu).
Ye sab milke ek moral battlefield create karte hain, jahan har warrior apna truth ladh raha hai.
Series hume yeh samjhati hai — Mahabharata sirf ek war nahi thi, balki mankind ke andar ke war ki kahani thi.
Kurukshetra Part 1 Ending Explained (No Spoilers):
Part 1 ke end tak series apna groundwork perfectly set kar deti hai.
Kuch major characters abhi tak properly explore nahi hue — jaise Karna, Krishna, aur Kauravas ka deep angle.
Yani Part 2 me hume aur intense emotional conflicts dekhne milenge.
Series ek cliffhanger ke saath khatam hoti hai jo clearly promise karti hai — “Antim Mahayudh abhi shuru hua hai!”
Technical Aspects:
| Aspect | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Direction | Powerful & layered |
| Writing | Deep and philosophical |
| Voice Acting | Mixed – Gulzar Saab wins, others average |
| Animation | Good but not world-class |
| Music & BGM | Soulful & fitting |
| Editing | Crisp in early episodes, slightly loose later |
| Cinematography (Animation) | Visually striking with warm tones |
Final Verdict: Watch It Or Skip It?
If you love mythology, deep storytelling, aur animation ke naye experiments — Kurukshetra Part 1 is a must-watch!
Yes, it has its flaws — uneven voice acting aur minor pacing issues. But the ambition, philosophy, and emotional depth of this show make it totally worth your time.
Gulzar Saab ke narration ke bina shayad ye show itna impactful nahi hota, but unki awaaz is series ko “spiritual poetry” bana deti hai.
In short:
“Kurukshetra Part 1” ek animated Mahabharata nahi, ek living philosophy hai — jahan har yoddha hum sab ke andar chhupa hai.
⭐ Overall Rating: 3.5/5
⭐ Best For: Mythology lovers, animation fans, aur unke liye jo Mahabharata ko ek naye nazariye se dekhna chahte hain.
