Mahakali – Anth Hi Aarambh Hai

Mahakaali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai (transl. Mahakali — The end marks the beginning) is an Indian Hindi-language television series that premiered on 22 July 2017 on Colors TV. The show traced the epic story of Goddess Parvati’s metamorphosis into Mahakali. Produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary's Swastik Productions, it starred Pooja Sharma in the title role of Goddess Mahakali, Sourabh Raj Jain as Lord Mahadev and Kanan Malhotra as Lord Vishnu.

Mahakali – Anth Hi Aarambh Hai
Genre	Mythology Drama
Created by	Siddharth Kumar Tewary
Based on	Devi Mahatmya Kalika Purana Devi-Bhagavata Purana
Written by	Vinod Sharma
Screenplay by	Utkarsh Naithani
Story by	Siddharth Kumar Tewary Utkarsh Naithani
Creative director	Nitin Mathura Gupta
Starring	See below
Opening theme	Kram Kreem Hum Hreem Kalikaye Hum Phat
Country of origin	India
Original language	Hindi
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	95
Production
Producers	Gayatri Gil Tewary Rahul Kumar Tewary
Cinematography	Anshumann Mandlay
Editors	Paresh Shah Madan Mishra
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	45 minutes
Production company	Swastik Productions
Original release
Network	Colors TV
Release	22 July 2017 (2017-07-22) – 5 August 2018 (2018-08-05)

Plot

The show's plot revolves around the much-adored tale of Parvati (the wife of Shiva) and her alter-ego, Mahakali.

Adi Parashakti, the supreme Goddess of the Universe (according to the Shakta faith) creates Brahma – the progenitor, Vishnu – the protector and Shiva – the destroyer, and their female counterparts. According to her promise to Shiva, who expressed his love to her, she takes multiple births on earth to woo and wed Him. He is entrusted with the duty of transforming her earthly incarnations into Mahakali but failed 107 times (of which the 107th birth was of Sati). So, Adi Parashakti finally incarnates as the princess of the Himalayas and is renowned as Parvati.

With her strong will and intense devotion, Parvati becomes the wife of Shiva. However, their marriage is threatened when the demon king Shumbha (along with his brother Nishumbha) expresses his desire to marry Parvati and wages war against Shiva. In an attempt to protect all those who have taken up refuge in her home at Mount Kailash, Parvati rushes into the war, successfully channeling Mahakali, her untamed warrior side through her unbound rage. Her rampage inspires other goddesses like Lakshmi, Saraswati and Indrani to bring forth their inner warriors and fight alongside Kali.

Mahakali is able to overthrow Shumbha's tyrannical rule and slay all his associates (including famed demons like Mahishasura, Bhandasura, Tarakasura, Nishumbha, Raktabija and Chanda and Munda) in the process.

In years following her triumph, Shiva and Parvati expand their family to include their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya. Further stories highlight annihilation of threats like Banasura, Narakasura, Arunasura, Durgamasura, Andhak and the like – all being formidable demons she famously killed in various incarnations. The show also highlights the importance of family sticking up for each other, as the Kailash-Parivar face multiple social challenges and deconstruct many primitive thought processes.

Cast

Main

• Pooja Sharma as Mahakali, Parvati / Kali, Chamunda, Bhadrakali / Sati / Durga / Navadurga (Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidhatri) / The Mahavidyas (Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala) / Bama Kali / Ambika / Jwalamukhi / Avanti Kali / Chamundeshwari / Ardhanarishvara / Annapurna / Kamakhya / Bhramari / Shatakshi / Shakambhari / Hinglaj / Bimala / Devi Kanya Kumari / Matsya Parvati / Mhalsa / Shitala / Akhilandeshwari / Mariamman / Karumariamman / Meenakshi / Vishalakshi / Angala Devi / Mahadevi and other incarnations of Parvati.
• Saurabh Raj Jain as Shiva / Mahakaal / Rudra / Virabhadra / Bhairava / Nataraja / Jagannath / Kaal Bhairav / Martand and other incarnations of Shiva: Sati and Parvati's husband, Kartikeya, and Ganesha's father. Jalandhara.
• Kanan Malhotra as Vishnu / Krishna / Mohini. He is the protector of the entire universe. Brahma is also formed by him through a lotus which grew from his navel. He helped Parvati, her sister, in her journey to marry Shiva. All the happenings of the universe, whether present or future, are known to him. He helps Parvati and Shiva whenever required. Along with Shiva and Brahma, he forms the Trimurti / Tridev.
• Nikita Sharma as Lakshmi; Vaishnavi; Narayani. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty and prosperity, and associated with Maya ("Illusion"). Along with Parvati and Saraswati, she forms the Tridevi of Hindu goddesses. She helps Parvati in finding Kartikeya's Shaktipunja (when it was divided into 6). Also, she helps her to kill Shumbha as Kalaratri and during other severe situations. She was once saved by Parvati (in the form of Kamakhya) when Shiva blesses Narkasura with the power to control her. She gets encouraged from Mahakali and takes the form of Narayani/Vaishnavi to destroy the evil.
• Meghan Jadhav as Kartikeya, also known as Devasena, Kumara, etc.
• Krish Chauhan as Ganesha

Recurring

• Gagan Kang as Indra
• Amit Bhanushali as Sheshnaag
• Abhishek Avasthi as Nandi
• Faisal Khan as Garuda
• Sahil Uppal as Sher
• Manish Bishla as Dev-Raj Indra: King of All Devs, Shachi's Husband.
• Hitanshu Jinsi as Vayudev
• Falaq Naaz as Saraswati, Brahmani
• Sandeep Rajora as Suryadev
• Debina Bonerjee / Rimpi Das as Ganga
• Himanshu Bamzai as Devantak
• Akash Kumar as Brahma
• Shailesh Datar as Sage Narada
• Rohit Khurana as Shani
• Vishal Nayak as Agnidev
• Preeti Chaudhary as Kritika
• Nimai Bali as Sage Ushana
• Shafaq Naaz as Vrinda
• Chandni Bhagwanani as Behula
• Reshmi Ghosh as Manasa / Mansa Devi
• Amrita Prakash / Divyangana Jain as Mohini
• Divyaalakshmi as Devi Daruka
• Rohit Bakshi as Kamadeva / Bhandasura
• Vinita Joshi Thakkar as Devi Rati
• Abhaas Mehta as Shumbha
• Danish Akhtar as Nishumbha
• Nirbhay Wadhwa as Mahishasura
• Kunal Bakshi as Andhakasura: Parvati and Shiva's Son.
• V S Prince Ratan as Aakash Dev
• Sneha Namanandi as Daruka
• Dinesh Mehta as Narakasura
• Shilpa Saklani as Diti

Production

Development

We are utilizing high-end VFX and prosthetics to highlight the fantastical element in the story, in keeping with the mythological era. Intense research has led us to the ideal depiction on-screen, and we hope that the viewers like Mahakaali as much as they have supported Karmphal Data Shani.”

— Siddharth Kumar Tewary

Actress Pooja Sharma also shared that it took nearly 3–4 hours for her to get painted in her Kali avatar. The set designs were different from other similar shows as the producer, Siddharth Tiwary, shared that he wanted the concept of the visualisation to be unique, and that the story would be blend of some fiction and stories from different Puranas.

Reception

Ratings

The show opened up with 6507 impressions and was the third most watched urban television show in its debut week in India.

The Times of India stated, "The show is a perfect blend of drama and mythology. Compared to the other shows, the VFX effects used in Mahakali are excellent and seeps one into the world of fantasy. Right from the backdrop setting to the costume drama, the make-believe looks convincing and draws you into its tale. The show has elaborate costumes and jewellery which make it furthermore engaging to watch."

External links

• Mahakali – Anth Hi Aarambh Hai at IMDb