On Saturday (21st October), film director Vivek Agnihotri announced from his X handle that he is making a 3-part film on the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The film will be based on Padma Bhushan Dr SL Bhyrappa’s modern classic ‘Parva – An Epic Tale of Dharma’.
Vivek Agnihotri posted, “BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Is Mahabharat HISTORY or MYTHOLOGY? We, at I AM BUDDHA, are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr SL Bhyrappa’s ‘modern classic’: PARVA – AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA. There is a reason why PARVA is called ‘Masterpiece of masterpieces’.”
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) October 21, 2023
Is Mahabharat HISTORY or MYTHOLOGY?
We, at @i_ambuddha are grateful to the almighty to be presenting Padma Bhushan Dr. SL Bhyrappa’s ‘modern classic’:
PARVA – AN EPIC TALE OF DHARMA.
There is a reason why PARVA is called ‘Masterpiece of masterpieces’.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/BiRyClhT5c
In the next post, Vivek Agnihotri shared a video explaining his motive behind taking up this topic for his next film. Vivek Agnihotri said in this video, “It is said that there is no story whose original inspiration is not found in Mahabharata. Is Mahabharata just an epic or is it the consciousness of Bharat? However, a question has been asked for centuries. Is Mahabharata history or mythology? Dr SL Bhyrappa is honoured with many awards in literature and art. After researching for 17 years, Padma Bhushan Dr SL Bhyrappa wrote a modern classic titled ‘Parva’. There is a reason why PARVA is called ‘Masterpiece of masterpieces’.”
What is PARVA? Watch. pic.twitter.com/E91Zo1PLbB
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) October 21, 2023
Agnihotri added, “‘Parva’ has been translated into many Indian languages, as well as other foreign languages like English, Russian, and Mandarin. It has also been translated into Sanskrit. It turned out to be a best-seller in every language. We feel very happy and proud that Dr SL Bhyarappa trusted us with the responsibility of bringing this to the silver screen. The film ‘Parva – An Epic Tale of Dharma’ will be made in three parts. The work for the same has been started.”
In this video, Vivek Agnihotri is seen touching the feet of the senior Kannada author, seeking his blessings. Vivek Agnihotri and Prakash Belawadi will collaborate on the script of this film. Prakash Belawadi, a seasoned journalist, has also been seen in several films as an actor. The film will be produced under the banner of Vivek Agnihotri’s production house ‘I am Buddha‘. Pallavi Joshi will be the producer of the film.
It is notable that SL Bhyrappa is seen as a towering figure of Kannada literature. Honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2023, the Padma Shri in 2016, and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2015 by the Indian government, he is celebrated for his seminal work, ‘Parva’, considered a timeless creation.