Jai Hanuman

Jai Hanuman is a 1997 Indian Hindu TV series based on the life of the monkey-god Hanuman in Hindi language. It was directed by Sanjay Khan.^[1][2] The series was initially shown on the state-run DD Metro, and was later shown on Sony Entertainment Television in 2008.^[3]

Production

Created by Sanjay Khan, the series told the saga of Hanuman chronologically over 178 episodes. Jai Hanuman starred Raj Premi as Hanuman, Siraj Mustafa Khan as Shri Ram, Irrfan Khan as Maharishi Valmiki, and Manish Khanna as Lakshman. The series was produced by Sanjay Khan's production house, Numero Uno International, which had produced other series of his, including The Sword of Tipu Sultan (1989–1990) and The Great Maratha (1993).^[4][5] The series is notable for Sanjay Khan's attempt to describe the essence of Hinduism, despite being a Muslim himself.

Plot summary

In the Treta era, various events occur, including the defeat of demons by Lord Vishnu, which leads to the birth of positive and negative forces. One of the negative forces—the rise of demon dictator Ravana—plunges the universe into terror. The birth of God becomes necessary to eliminate the terror of Ravana, leading to the birth of two of the most powerful and mutually attached gods: Shri Rama and Hanuman, sons of Ayodhya's King Dashrath and the ape-headed King Kesari respectively. As time passes, the two meet and become close friends. Hanuman is a celibate monkey, dedicated friend, and brave warrior. Shri Ram is an ideal human being and an excellent warrior, whose love for Hanuman knows no bounds. Shri Ram asks Hanuman to perform worldly duties until the call of time. As time progresses, events described in Valmiki's Ramayan take place. During the war of Lanka, the war skills of human beings and monkeys (along with those of Shri Rama and Hanuman) lead to the end of demon warriors like Meghnad, Kumbhakarna, and Ravan. Shri Rama ultimately returns to Ayodhya, and Ramarajya comes into existence.

As time passes, friendship between Shri Rama and Hanuman grows, but after many dramatic events Shri Rama—along with his co-incarnated fellows Laxman, Sita, and Bharat—leaves Earth. They leave Hanuman alone to serve mankind. As time passes, the Dwapar era arrives and Shri Rama, along with other Incarnated Souls, again reincarnates as Shri Krishna to protect Dharma. Shri Krishna forms an alliance with Pandavas, the five Moral Brothers, against their 100 immoral cousins, the Kauravas. The third Pandava, Arjuna, is a friend and follower of Krishna. Shri Krishna makes Hanuman realise that Shri Krishna and his friend Shri Rama are the same, and asks him to support him in his mission Hanuman does so, and the events of Mahabharata take place. Before the war, Pandavas (on the advice of Shri Krishna) invokes Hanuman to help him in the upcoming war. Hanuman blesses them and takes a place in Arjuna's Chariot. The sermon of Bhagavad Geeta and the 18 Days Battle of Kurukshetra take place, leading to a victory for Dharma. Hanuman watches the bloodshed in silence. After many other dramatic events, the Dwapar era ends and Shri Krishna leaves Earth.

As time passes, the Kaliyug era arrives and all morality from Earth fades away. Hanuman takes the responsibility of sowing the seeds of Dharma along with spreading the fame of Shri Rama with the help of Goswami Tulsidas, who is the incarnation of Maharishi Valmiki. Goswami Tulsidas rewrites the Ramayana in the form of the Ramcharitmanas to help uplift the masses. Hanuman helps Goswami Tulsidas in every way, including helping to fade of the illusion of lust. Goswami Tulsidas and Hanuman are successful to some extent in their mission.

Tulsidas pleases Shri Rama and Lakshman and gives him their Darshan, while Mata Sita gives Darshan to Ratna, wife of Goswami Tulsidas. After a long period Tulsidas leaves for Baikunth, and Hanuman carries on the responsibility of sowing the seed of Morality all by himself.

Cast

• Raj Premi – Hanuman / Shiva
• Siraj Mustafa Khan – Rama^[6]
• Kavin Dave – Bal Hanuman
• Falguni Parikh – Anjana
• Deepak Jethi – Kesari
• Prem Chand Sharma as Surya Dev
• Deep Dhillon – Dashratha
• Upasna Singh - Mohini
• Manish Khanna – Lakshman / Arjun
• Shilpa Mukherjee / Meenakshi Gupta – Mata Sita
• Sonia Kapoor – Mata Gouri / Mata Mandodari
• Arun Mathur - Shukracharya/Dhritrashtra
• Brownie Parasher - Rahu/Mayasura/Sugriva
• Anirudh Aggarwal – Shambrasur
• Roma Manik – Mata Kaushalya
• Maya Alagh – Mata Kaikeyi
• Mangala Kenkare – Mata Sumitra
• Anil Yadav – Ravana
• Jaya Bhattacharya – Goddess Laxmi
• Rohitash Gaud – Tulsidas
• Irrfan Khan / Sudhir Dalvi – Maharishi Valmiki
• Chand Dhar – Sumali
• Nimai Bali – Vayu / Bali / Duryodhana
• Raju Shrestha – Sage Narada
• Sunil Bob Gadhavali- Malyavan
• Arun Bali – Vishrava
• Utkarsha Naik – Kaikasi
• Amit Pachori – Angada
• Deepraj Rana – Vibhishana
• Ritu Deepak – Sulochana
• Anupam Shyam – Mali
• Narendra Jha - Kubera
• Sudhir Mitto – Bhagwan Vishnu (earlier episodes)
• Ravi Kishan-Shri Krishna
• Raman Khatri – Parshurama / Indrajeet / Gunasunder
• Sunil Singh – Sage Vishwamitra
• Pradeep Sharma – Janaka
• Ravi Chawala – Jatayu
• Rahul Khetarpal – Bharat
• Mahendra Ghule - Kumbhakarna
• Praphulla Pandey - Karna
• Shailendra Srivastava - Ahiravana
• Ramesh Tiwari - Mahiravana

References