The Indian television industry has recently become very fond of historical dramas. These films show us the past in a more interesting way than classroom history lessons can. Recently, the ZEE5 series Taj: Divided by Blood joined in this trend. This series explores the ancient and of course interesting world of the Mughal Empire.
At the center of this award-winning series, we have the actress Aditi Rao Hydari. She plays Anarkali who is the main character. Her role in this series has contributed greatly to how historical figures are portrayed in Indian TV. The impact of her role will likely be felt for generations to come. Let's explore more of this topic below.
Aditi Rao Hydari’s Character: A Blend of History and Fiction
The character Anarkali has always been in Indian folklore for years. Little Indian children learn about her from stories they hear from their grandparents and other elders. However, it is still a debate whether she is a real historical figure that actually existed. This uncertainty gave the writers of the show the creative license to blend actual historical elements with fictional ones. This way, they were able to create an interesting and relatable character that the actress Aditi Rao Hydari played so well.
This approach explains how the character has layers beyond a romantic figure. She is a strong, independent woman who challenges the norms of her time. By focusing on Anarkali's humanity and courage, Hydari's performance helps viewers connect with a historical figure on a more personal level, one that viewers now expect from new TV shows regardless of their genre.
In an interview, Hydari expressed her approach and how she was able to bring the character to life. She said she felt intimidated by the character at first but she later realized that Anarkali “is just a girl, a human with a beating heart, who is in love. She stands for the truth and does not fear the consequences…”
The Challenge of Representing Historical Figures on Indian Television
Historical films on Indian TV have always had some challenges. One of the biggest challenges writers and producers face is the issue of historical accuracy. It is always difficult to strike a balance between giving viewers a show with an engaging storyline that is historically accurate. What they often end up with is a mix of fact and fiction like we have in this series
For example, the love story between Salim and Anarkali is a popular legend, but there is little historical evidence to support it. The earliest mentions of Anarkali come from accounts by English travelers in the early 17th century, but these stories are not found in major Mughal texts of the time. This lack of material led the writers to get creative and add their own touch to the story.
Another challenge that this show has managed to address is the problem of overromanticizing historical events for the sake of viewership. Many historical dramas just focus on creating a legendary show that they create characters that are just too good to be true.
This can sometimes lead to misrepresentation of historical figures or events. The creators of Taj: Divided by Blood were conscious of this. Despite how legendary the characters are, they make mistakes that remind us that they are still humans, no matter how long ago they lived.
A New Standard for Women in Historical Dramas
The show would have been a feminist nightmare if the writers had chosen to reduce the character Anarkali to nothing more than a love interest for Prince Salim. However, the role Hydari plays is that of a character whose decisions matter in the grand scheme of things.
The character played an important role in how the narrative played out. This portrayal aligns with a growing trend in Indian television to showcase strong, multidimensional female characters in historical settings.
Impact on Historical Storytelling in India
The portrayal of Anarkali by Aditi Rao Hydari in Taj: Divided by Blood contributes to the evolution of historical storytelling in Indian television. It shows how Indian TV is shifting from one-dimensional historical portrayals to a more nuanced and complex one.
The series tries to balance historical context with relatable human emotions and motivations. As Hydari explained, her portrayal of Anarkali focuses on the character as "just a girl, a human with a beating heart, who is in love." This approach helps the audience connect with her character on an emotional level.
Final Thoughts
Aditi Rao Hydari’s role in Taj: Divided by Blood has taken the Indian historical drama genre a step forward. Her portrayal of the character Anakarli allows viewers to see the historical figure as something more than a legend. Her acting gave the character depth and humanity which will help viewers have a more nuanced understanding of this part of history.
By blending historical events with fictional stories, it has shown that it doesn’t matter whether or not the story of Anarkali really happened. What matters is that the entertainment industry keeps making space for historical works to shine.
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