“Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap jald hi Sony Entertainment Television par”
“Maa, see here, another Historical!” I smiled, waving at the TV.
“About whom?” She frowned, knowing it would mean one more 30-minute slot to take over the TV. As if Mahabharat was not enough!
“Rana Pratap Singh!” I said gleefully. “They are not showing who will play it, though.”
The last Historical I truly loved was Veer Shivaji, which ended suddenly.
Two days later….
“Bharat ka veer putra Maharana Pratap Sattais May se Sony Entertainment Television par”
27th May 2013:
“Dhola maru Dharti ro… laal ayo re….”
His brown eyes, that red tika, that run through the sands of Jaisalmer … I was already in love with Kunwar Pratap. Having read the history, I knew Dheerbai’s sweet talks were purposeful, but so what? One needs talent to make the enemy dance to your tunes. And Jaivanta Bai ji. Wow! That aura of grace, I was always a fan of Rajsree ji. And one episode gave me three favourites together, Faisal Khan, Aashka Goradia and Rajshree Vaidya Thakur. Okay, I admit it, since the first episode itself, I was Okay Udai Singh, I don’t like you! That innocent smile Kunwar Pratap wore was so adorable.
Kunwar Pratap’s journey was slowly mesmerising us as much as Faisal’s acting!
The Gurukul days, Raghavendra ji, the Shams Khan Kill, the Surtan days, Krishna, Panna Dhai. Every episode kept me hooked, crying, smiling and laughing with Kunwar Pratap. Heard he was going to be there for only two months, but the popularity apparently made them extend that period. Thank God for that. Those wars and dialogues were always wow, “Jauhar phir na aega…” a promise he couldn’t keep later.
Entered Ajabde Punwar, and she was just like I imagined her to be. No serial ever made me say “Aww” every time my eyes met and made my heart race when he held her hand and dragged her away from the Afghan attacks. I cried buckets when she was fighting for his life. Ahh, good old days!
27th May 2014:
Udai Singh wanted an alliance with Marwar thanks to the sacrificing soul called Ajabdeh. I was really pissed off with how he was pushing her to confess, and she was pushing him away and hurting him. Cometh the next episode, and I was blown away with “Hum e mil chuki hai… humare samne khadi hai.” The lone tear that escaped his eyes every time made a million hearts ache. Then again, she…err… Kher chodo!
27th May 2015:
Post-leap, I am sure half of you left watching it. But truth be said, I never had a problem with it, coz… BKVPMP was never about PrAja alone. It was mostly his ideals, his war techniques, bravery and achievements. And post-leap, they did total justice to that except for some Dheer drama.
It was that episode where he led an army against Akbar in Chittorgarh, somewhere near December 1567 and drove him away at least for a month. Ajabde’s prayers, Amar’s bravery and his confidence were shown beautifully. Yes, I missed the romance, but that was their real life, full of struggles with each other; life is not Romantic.
Here to mention, I had decided randomly to write their real history in a fiction form in my blog, and I got overwhelming responses, especially on “She Left”. I kind of dreaded the day when she would.
And I was not wrong.
I had made friends across the country and out of it for these few blogs, and I was so grateful to have them. I am glad I can say I still have them there, just a message away. Incidentally, to mention, it was this very day that my dad and I decided on a Mewar trip post the episode, I just didn’t know he would make it so soon!
27th May 2016:
It’s been months since the show was over. Yet every episode is in my blood and soul. Every time I am free, I turn to these very episodes to make me laugh, cry and smile the same way they did two years back. Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde’s love still makes me wish, dream and imagine. Their bravery makes me wonder. I have spent nights (read till dawn) talking episodes and stories, plots and subplots with many fellow MRPians, and I still do so, which makes me smile every time. All the FCs, fandom and craziness have remained the same, and it’s awesome to be a part of this crazy bunch.
Today, on the third anniversary, I am glad I was a viewer.
Maybe 20 years later, people will still remember a certain Saas Bahu Drama or a Supernatural Show, but for me, Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap is the one that touched my soul and gave me ideals. There have been crunch situations when I feel lost, and yes, I may sound crazy, but his ideals and her beliefs make me believe.
Reading about him has increased twice in the last two years, and the more I read his folklore and history and listen to the local songs about him (do listen to those!) I bowed to the man whose statue stands overlooking Chavand, a lamp at his feet that cold air gave me goosebumps, and I whispered “Kunwar Pratap” with tearful eyes.
Many didn’t know a certain Ajabdeh Baisa and her contribution to his life. But being a history lover and having a special interest in the not-so-famous women behind the successful men, I had stumbled on her name before, like I did on Jaivanta Bai’s and her character was more than justified in the show. Moreover, going to his land and seeing his name with hers, I smiled to myself.
Faisal and Roshni, Ssharad and Rachna indeed made them alive onscreen, and those lines “Hoke vivash phir aoge tum, chod ke phir na jaoge tum” still haunt me.
I should stop now as it will take me days, months and years to describe my feelings towards the show, and them, and RoSal. It’s been three years, and I won’t forget in the next 30! Thank you, BKVPMRP, Faisal, Ssharad, and the team for making people remember a soul who was the true first freedom fighter of India.
Lord Rama said, “Our love makes us immortal, our deeds make us God”
I looked up at that board that said “Patni: Ranisa Ajabdeh Bai”, and I smiled at his statue, remembering those words.
Yes, their love made them immortal 500 years hence, and their deed made him Mewar’s “Ekling ka kahe jo Avatar, woh Pratap hai”
Jai Eklingji, Jai Mewar, Jai Maharana Pratap!
