Published Paper Details:

Abstract: The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the Indian epics that profoundly serve as repository of knowledge, ethics and moral values. The timeless contribution of the epics can be seen in literature, philosophy, politics, education, arts and media. The epics act as the foundational texts inspiring from the classical poetry to contemporary retellings and films. The mythological characters, their identity, decisions, representation and dilemmas continue to influence, shape and have an impact on the contemporary scenarios in society. Since the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and the characters in it have a powerful impact in shaping human identity, conduct, behavior and psyche, it's very important to know how rightly they are pictured, portrayed and represented in literature. Films are the powerful tool that influences people of all social strata across all timelines. The episodes of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have been telecasted as daily soaps, dramas, short films, web series and films. There is a visible shift and change in the narratives and adaptations of films in contemporary times. The traditional narratives of character representation, gender stereotypes, assignment of role and identity in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have been relooked, reconstructed and reinterpreted in the film adaptations. The present paper focuses on two full length films and a short film; Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan', Prakash Jha's 'Raajneeti' and Sujoy Ghosh's 'Ahalya'. All the selected films are the modern retellings of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in a new fashion that has not been looked at in traditional narratives. The films focus on the wronged characters and narrate their plight, dilemmas, choices and stories of their making.