| Upanishad Ganga | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Spiritual, Mythological |
| Created by | Chandraprakash Dwivedi |
| Developed by | Chinmaya Mission |
| Directed by | Chandraprakash Dwivedi |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Swami Tejomayananda |
| Producer | Chinmaya Mission |
| Production locations | Varanasi, India |
| Running time | Approx. 45 minutes |
| Production company | Chinmaya Mission |
| Original release | |
| Network | DD National |
| Release | 11 March 2012 – 24 March 2013 |
Upanishad Ganga (Hindi: उपनिषद् गंगा) is an Indian television series based on the wisdom and stories of the ancient Hindu text, the Upanishad. The 52-episode series was directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, and produced by the Chinmaya Mission. It aired on DD National from 11 March 2012 to 24 March 2013.[1] and was the first-ever TV serial based on the Upanishads and dramatised its central teachings.[2][3]
Plot
[edit]The series is set in modern-day Varanasi, where a Sanskrit scholar and his playwright son stage theatrical renditions of Upanishadic teachings. Each episode features a dramatisation of key figures—such as Valmiki, Dara Shikoh, Ashtavakra, Meera Bai, and Yajnavalkya—tying ancient wisdom to relevant life lessons, to make Upanishadic wisdom accessible to a modern audience. [4]
Episodes
[edit]The series comprises 52 episodes. It begins with foundational teachings and gradually unfolds through short dramatizations:
- Episodes 1–4: Introduction to Vedic concepts and self-discovery
- 5–22: Stories of Valmiki, Dara Shikoh, Ashtavakra, and others.
- 23–42: Episodes focusing on Tulsidas, Nachiketa, Yajnavalkya.
- 43–51: Practical spiritual applications via Meera Bai, Sant Eknath.
- 52: A finale centred on gratitude and reflection.
Cast
[edit]The series had a large ensemble cast, each playing multiple roles over the course of the series. Abhimanyu Singh played 33 different roles. [3]
- Abhimanyu Singh as Sutradhar
- Ravi Khanvilkar as Sutradhar
- Sandeep Mohan
- Auroshikha Dey
- K.K. Raina
- Jaya Bhattacharya as Ratnavali, Jabala
- Mukesh Tiwari
- Rasika Dugal
- Vrajesh Hirjee as Ashtavakra
- Sai Deodhar
- Zakir Hussain
- Gagan Malik
- Manju Mugdale
- Digvijay Singh
- Vineet Kumar Singh
- Huma Qureshi as Wife of Yuvraj[5]
Production
[edit]The concept was conceived by Swami Tejomayananda, the then head of Chinmaya Mission, and produced at a cost of US $1.6 million, under the direction of Chandraprakash Dwivedi, known for his historical serial Chanakya.[4] The screenplay was written joint by Dwivedi and Farid Khan after four years of research with Chinmaya Mission. [4][6] The series were shot over a period four years and the prouction cost crossed over 25 crores, before being aired. At the time, it was one of the most expensive serials on television.[3]
Reception
[edit]The series received widespread appreciation from the audience and was acclaimed.[7] Hinduism Today described the as highly professional, with excellent writing, staging, acting and cinematography.[6]
Home video
[edit]In 2013, it was released as a Home video DVD series by Shemaroo Entertainment.[2]
Legacy
[edit]Considered a benchmark in spiritual programming, Upanishad Ganga is lauded for translating ancient philosophical texts into visual narratives, raising production standards for culturally rooted television in India. Over the years, it achieved iconic status, and later during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it was re-aired by the DD Bharati channel of the state-run Doordarshan. [8][9] It continues to be popular, and in January 2025, Chinmaya Mission and Sanatana Seva Sangham translated and released the series in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and English languages.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Das, Soumitra (9 March 2012). "Chandraprakash Dwivedi upbeat about Upanishad Ganga!". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b "First-ever TV serial on Upanishads released on home video". Business Standard. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Maheshwri, Neha (13 January 2012). "33 roles for Abhimanyu Singh in one serial!". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "'उपनिषद गंगा': हजारों सालों से चली आ रही मेरी तुम्हारी कहानी". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 3 March 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Huma Qureshi considering a comedy reality show?". India Today. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Television: Chinmaya Mission Creates a Hit TV Series". Hinduism Today. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Chinmaya Mission and Sanatana Seva Sangham Release "Upanishad Ganga" in Multiple Languages". Express News. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "India Watches DD, India Fights Corona". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
re-broadcast of its old iconic serials
- ^ "Doordarshan announces reruns of Chandraprakash Dwivedi's Chanakya, Shaktimaan, Shriman Shrimati". Firstpost. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
External links
[edit]| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Chinmaya Mission Official channel | |
 Upanishad Ganga in multiple languages |