Porus | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Siddharth Kumar Tewary |
Screenplay by | Siddharth Kumar Tewary |
Story by |
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Starring | |
Composers | Sangeet Haldipur Siddharth Haldipur Suryaraj Kamal Lenin Nandi Raju Singh |
Country of origin | India |
Original language | Hindi |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 249 |
Production | |
Producers | Siddharth Kumar Tewary Rahul Kumar Tewary Gayatri Gill Tewary |
Production location | Thailand[1] |
Cinematography | Kabir Lal |
Editors | Janak Chauhan Anil Vaishya |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Production company | One Life Studios |
Budget | ₹500 crore (US$63 million) |
Original release | |
Network | Sony Entertainment Television |
Release | 27 November 2017 13 November 2018 | –
Related | |
Chandragupta Maurya |
Porus is a historical drama television series based on the Battle of the Hydaspes, visualizing the lives of Porus, ruler of the Paurava Kingdom in India, and Alexander the Great, the king of Macedonia. It aired from 27 November 2017 till 13 November 2018 on Sony Entertainment Television. Another historical drama Chandragupta Maurya replaced it.
The show was created by Siddharth Kumar Tewary of Swastik Productions.[2][3] It is the most expensive show on Indian television, having a budget of about INR 500 crores (roughly US$63 million).[4]
Two rival Indian kingdoms, the Pauravas (of the Puru tribe) and Takshashila (of the Bharat tribe) decide to end their enmity with a political marriage of the king of the Paurava Kingdom, Bamni and Anusuya, the younger sister of Ambhiraj, the king of Takshashila. Unlike her brother Ambhiraj, who cares only for his kingdom, Anusuya dreams of a united India. However, a Persian trader, Darius conspires with Ambhiraj and Bamni's elder brother and prime minister, Shiv Dutt, breaking the peace between the two kingdoms and forcing the pregnant Anusuya to flee. During her escape, she gives birth to a son, Porus (native name Purushottam, nicknamed Puru). Shiv Dutt tries to kill Anusuya and Porus by throwing them in River Jhelum. However, the Commander-in-Chief of the Paurava Kingdom, Ripudaman saves Porus and raises him in the Dasyu Kingdom, made up of pirates. Meanwhile, Darius (who later becomes the emperor of Persia) manipulates Bamni into becoming his trade partner with the intention of gradually stealing India's wealth, leaving a heavy Persian influence on the Paurava Kingdom. On Shiv Dutt's suggestion, Bamni marries Kadika, sister of Shiv Dutt's right-hand man and Paurava general. Samar Singh. and has a son, Kanishk. Years later, after a series of events resulting in Ripudaman's death, Porus is reunited with his parents and eventually drives Darius out of India. Shiv Dutt, who detests Takshashila and does not want the half-Takshashilan Porus to succeed Bamni, overthrows Bamni and installs Kanishk as king. However, Porus soon retakes the Paurava kingdom, resulting in Shiv Dutt's death and Kanishk's imprisonment. Considering Porus more worthy than himself, Bamni willingly renounces the throne and Porus becomes king of the Paurava Kingdom.
In Macedonia, Queen Olympias insults King Philip, resulting in the latter raping her. To avenge this insult, Olympias proclaims their son, Alexander, as the son of Zeus (King of the Greek Gods). Alexander grows up to be an ambitious, as well as respectful prince, and proves his skills in a battle. His half-brother Arrhideaus is made a mad person by Olympia. Philip marries Cleopatra Eurydice of Macedon, and denies Alexander the throne, saying that his and Cleopatra's son will be his successor. This leaves Alexander heartbroken and vengeful. Cleopatra Eurydice gives birth to a daughter, and also Philip decides to wed his daughter Cleopatra of Macedon to Alexander I of Epirus. They wed, however Philip is soon assassinated by Pausanias on Alexander's command, making Alexander the new king. Olympias and Alexander also murder Cleopatra of Eurydice, her two infant children, Arrihdeaus' mother Philinna and Cleopatra's father Attalus. Arrhideaus is spared by Alexander due to his insanity. Alexander soon becomes a ruthless ruler, conquering many kingdoms, including Persia, resulting in the death of Darius.
Alexander arrives in India, vassalising Ambhiraj and thus capturing Takshashila. Kanishk escapes imprisonment and allies with Alexander, though he later redefects to the Pauravas and is killed by Alexander. Alexander attacks the Pauravas resulting in a war lasting months. Both sides have heavy losses during the war, with Porus losing his parents though he kills Ambhiraj. Eventually, Alexander is victorious in the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BCE and captures Porus, but impressed by Porus's bravery, he returns his kingdom to him and ends his campaign. Porus has a son, Malayketu. On his way back to Macedonia, Alexander dies under mysterious circumstances in Babylon in 323 BCE. The same year, Porus and Laachi are assassinated in a group attack by Ambhiraj's vengeful son Ambhikumar and Alexander's former general Seleucus, though Malayketu survives. In his final moments, Porus entrusts the future of India to his prime minister and advisor, the Brahmin scholar Chanakya.
The show was hailed as 'visually captivating' by India Today.[36]
Pinkvilla called it the television version of the film Baahubali.[37]
Porus, being a finite series went off-air on 13 November 2018. Even before the end of the series, production house Swastik Pictures decided to tell the story of Chandragupta Maurya through a new show on Sony TV which replaced Porus and aired on the same time slot. Many key characters of Porus like Chanakya, Dhananand, Seleucus Nicator, Amatya Rakshas reprised their roles in the new show with the same actors portraying them. The new show Chandragupt Maurya was in seamless continuity with the ending of Porus. It went on-air on 14 November 2018 and off-air on 30 August 2019 after completing its story. Sourabh Raj Jain, who portrayed the character of Dhana Nanda in Porus reprised the role, whereas Tarun Khanna reprised his role of Chanakya and Nimai Bali as Amatya Rakshas.[38]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
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2018 | Lions Gold Awards | Favorite Actress of the Year (Critics)[39] | Rati Pandey | Won |
Favorite Actor of the Year[39] | Laksh Lalwani | Won | ||
2018 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Telenova/Soap[40] | One Life Studios | Won |
2018 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best VFX[40] | One Life Studios | Nominated |
2018 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Theme Song[40] | Porus | Nominated |
2018 | Indian Telly Technical Awards | Best VFX[41] | One Life Studios | Won |
2018 | Indian Telly Technical Awards | Best Costumes[41] | Ketki Dalal | Won |
2018 | Indian Telly Technical Awards | Best Director[41] | Siddharth Kumar Tewary | Won |
2018 | Indian Telly Technical Awards | Best Screenplay Writer[41] | Siddharth Kumar Tewary, Medha Jadav | Won |
2018 | Indian Telly Technical Awards | Best Sound(Fiction)[41] | Raghu Hegde | Won |
2019 | Asian Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role[42] | Laksh Lalwani | Nominated |
2019 | Asian Television Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role[42] | Rohit Purohit | Nominated |
2019 | Asian Television Awards | Best Director[43] | Siddharth Kumar Tewary | Won |