Mythological
Life OK’s mythological saga ‘Devon Ke Dev Mahadev’ launches on DVD
MUMBAI: In order to expand its reach and brand beyond television, Star India has released its Life OK’s mythological saga ‘Devon Ke Dev… Mahadev’ on DVD.
The company has tied up with Ultra for this purpose.
Star India CEO Uday Shankar said, “A nation and its people derive their collective identity and pride from stories passed on to it from earlier generations. It is our job not only to keep those stories alive but to tell them well in order to inspire a future generation. Like OK had its task cut out from the very first day and it has lived up to that challenge remarkably well by weaving gripping and inspirational stories with new approaches in production and technology.”
While 300 episodes was a big achievement for show, it is just the beginning of the story for the mythological saga and for Life OK. “30 years ago you had Ramayana and Mahabharata which were fantastic. They fostered creativity. However later on, mythological shows were done the same way. They became old fashioned in look. That is why they did not have much success. When we started on ‘Devon Ke Dev Mahadev’, we knew that the way in which the story was told would have to change. We wanted to take the show beyond the Amar Chita Katha level. We have created new parameter of creativity. At the same time we did not compromise on the quality of entertainment,” Shankar said.
Life OK, which completed one year in December 2012, is among the top five channels, Shankar added. “The aim is to make it a top three player.”
Life OK GM Ajit Thakur said that the success of Life OK went beyond ratings. “While we have done well in terms of ratings, we have also dwelt on issues including crime, domestic violence, terror and religion. We have done things both on the air and on the ground. We want to be the home of big. new stories. While our show has finished 300 episodes, we still have lots of stories to tell within that show. We made an earnest attempt to make it as contemporary as possible by highliting Lord Shiva’s views on pertinent issues such as pollution and gender equality. This distinction has been pivotal to the resounding success of the show. At the same time while mythology is a platform that will be showcased on Life OK, it is not the only thing”.
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Life OK is doing a social awareness campaign to clean up the Ganga. “We did 15 days of activity last month. In this manner Life OK has gone beyond just being a TV brand,” Thakur said.
Ultra Group CMD Sushilkumar Agrawal said that his company aims to bring content that blends entertainment with cultural and educational values. “This philosophy drew us to join hands with Life OK and launch ‘Devon Ke Dev Mahadev’ on DVD. This show is not just an epic but an amalgamation of Indian culture, tradition and values that will continue to be passed on to forthcoming generations.”
MUMBAI: Collective Artists Network is stepping boldly into the past to shape the future of Indian storytelling. The company has announced HistoryVerse, a sweeping new content slate dedicated to retelling India’s rich historical and mythological legacy for contemporary audiences.
Launched under the newly formed Collective Studios, the slate features eight history-inspired titles across theatrical films and web series, making it the largest such lineup announced in India to date. The stories draw inspiration from figures and traditions that have shaped the subcontinent for centuries, including Hanuman, Krishna, Shiva, Shivaji, Durga, Kali and Swami Samarth.
The already released Mahabharat series acts as the foundation stone for HistoryVerse, offering a glimpse into how deeply rooted narratives can be retold with scale, polish and a modern storytelling lens. Building on that momentum, three of the newly announced projects are being developed as feature films, while two will take the form of web series. More titles are already in various stages of development.
Collective says the focus is on detail and immersion at every step, from research and writing to visual design, aiming to make these stories feel expansive yet accessible, even for viewers who may not usually gravitate towards historical content.
Announcing the slate, Collective Artists Network founder and group CEO Vijay Subramaniam, said India’s folklore remains one of the country’s most underleveraged creative assets. “These stories sit at the heart of our culture and deserve to travel the world,” he said. “HistoryVerse is not just about films and series. It is about building an ecosystem of experiences, consumer brands and gaming that allows audiences to engage with these narratives in many ways.”
With HistoryVerse, Collective Studios is positioning itself for the long haul, betting that India’s oldest stories, told with contemporary craft, still have plenty of new ground to cover.
