Vikram Aur Betaal

Vikram Aur Betaal 25
Genre Mythology, Fantasy
Created by Sagar Arts Limited
Starring see below
Country of origin India
Original language(s) Hindi
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 26
Production
Producer(s) Ramanand Sagar
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time approximately 52 minutes
Release
Original network DD National
Picture format SDTV: 480i
Original release 1985
Chronology
Related shows Betaal Pachisi
External links
Website

Vikram Aur Betaal was a television programme that aired on DD National. The series contained stories from Indian mythology that aim at teaching kids life lessons while entertaining them. The concept of the program was based on Baital Pachisi, a collection of tales about the legendary King Vikram (identified as Vikramāditya) and the Vaitaala, a ghost analogous to a vampire in Western literature.

Background

Vikram Aur Betaal is based on Betaal Pacchisi, written nearly 2,500 years ago by Mahakavi Somdev Bhatt. These are spellbinding stories told to the wise King Vikramaditya by the wily ghost Betaal.

At the beginning of the frame story, Vikramaditya king of Ujjain receives, among other visitors, a mendicant who presents the king a fruit on every visit. In the fruits are later discovered orbs of ruby. Upon this discovery, the king resolves to visit the mendicant, who arranges a meeting under a banyan tree in a cremation ground beyond the city, at night, on the 14th day of the dark half of the month. At the meeting, the mendicant requests that Vikramaditya bring him a corpse suspended from another tree, with which the mendicant might achieve occult power.

Upon Vikramaditya's doing so, the corpse is identified as Betaal, the ghost, who narrates a story to the king, concluding that Vikramaditya must answer a moral question pertaining to the story's characters, on pain of his own death; and upon his answering the question, Betaal returns to his tree. This sequence repeats 25 times until Betaal reveals the mendicant's plan was to kill the king after obtaining power from Betaal himself. Thus forewarned, Vikramaditya kills the mendicant after their meeting.

The stories

The name Betaal Pachisi suggests the Betaal told the king 25 stories (pacchisi - पच्चीसी is derived from pacchis - पच्चीस in Hindi, which means 25), each narrated while Vikramaditya is carrying Betaal to the mendicant, where of each ended with a moral question answered by Vikramaditya.

Cast

List of episodes

# Title Other Cast
1 "King Vikramaditya and the Yogi / Suryamal and His Bride's Dilemma" Balwant Bansal as Mantri
Ramesh Bhatkar as the bride's father
Gagan Gupta as soldier
Satish Kaul as Suryamal
Short Summary: The first episode shows the story of how Raja Vikramaditya and Betaal meet. Beetal tells him a story of Suryamal, who falls in love with a woman and marries her with her parents' consent. En route to home, dacoits attack and behead Suryamal and his friend. Suryamal's bride, a devout worshipper of goddess Durga, tries to commit suicide after seeing her husband dead. Goddess answers her prayers and decides to bring them both alive. Excited with joy, bride puts Suryamal's head on his friend's body and vice versa.
Question: Betaal asks, who should the bride now consider as her husband; the man who has Suryamal's head or Suryamal's body?
Answer: Vikram answers, as brain controls whole man, the man with Suryamal's head is the bride's husband.
2 "King Rupsen and His Bodyguard Virvar" Dara Singh as Virvar
Madhu Kapoor as Raj Laxmi
Short Summary: Virvar with his mighty physical strength gains the position of being bodyguard to King Rupsen. But he charges him a heft sum of 9 tolas of gold daily. One day the goddess of wealth (Raj Laxmi) tells Virvar that a demon who sleeps in a cave will soon wake up and eat the king to satisfy his hunger. Being king's bodyguard, Virvar along with his family decide to sacrifice their lives and hence enter the cave. After knowing what Virvar did to save his life, King Rupsen feels ashamed of not doing his duty of protecting his masses and he too enters the cave. The goddess of wealth comes and tells them all of how it was all her plan to test Virvar if he really was loyal as he charged a huge amount.
Question: Betaal asks, who amongst King Rupsen and Virvar is great by doing his duty?
Answer: Vikram answers, as it was Virvar's duty to protect king and he did so, he was not as great as the King Rupsen himself, who for sake of his masses was ready to sacrifice his own life.
3 "Love Story of King Yashodhan" Vijay Arora as Yashodhan
Rajni Bala as Girl's mother
Ramesh Bhatkar as Girl's father
Mohan Choti as Darbari
Satish Kaul as Senapati
Kaajal Kiran as Rich man's daughter
Chandrakant Pandya as Darbari
Mulraj Rajda as Kausal Sen
Short Summary: King Yashodhan is a just and kind king of his Kingdom. He is well trusted by his army, commanders and courtiers.But, Yashodhan is also well skilled in punishing the culprits. He does so by punishing a businessman who had bring the nautch girls for his luxury.In his kingdom, there lived a rich couple who plans to marry their beautiful and able daughter off to king. They send an invitation to the King, in return the king sends his darbaris to inspect about the girl whether she is qualified enough to be the Queen. The Darbaris does so and think positively about her. But on their return way to the palace, the evil businessman convinced the Darbaris that the girl can't be queen as if the girl is beautiful then king will not pay attention to his duties. So, the Darbaris lies to the king about the girl. In result, the king brokes the proposal of marriage with the girl. After some time, the same rich man arranges his daughter marriage with the King's Commander. He engages his daughter with the commander and they fall in love with each other. One day, the girl's beauty caught the king's eye. He sends his ministers and commander to search the girl and ask her hand for the king. This puts a dilemma situation to the commander as his loyalty to king is tested. As a result, he broke off with the girl and sacrifices her and tells the king that she is ready for marriage with the king. In the wedding day, the darbaris advises the king to reward the commander after being asked why so, the darbaris put the whole truth to the king.As the king was just he arranges the marriage of commander and the very girl. Thus, sacrificing her.

Question: Whose sacrifice is bigger and greater the king's or the commander's?
Answer:The commander's sacrifice is bigger and greater as he sacrificed his love and fiancee for sake of loyalty and kingdom whereas the king sacrifices only a girl he wished to marry by simply catching her glimpse.

4 "Three Suitors and Somprabha" Vijay Arora as Anuragi
Ramesh Bhatkar as Somprabha's Father
Satish Kaul as Shilpi
Kaajal Kiran as Somprabha
Sunil Lahri as Vir Singh
Mulraj Rajda as the Giant
Dharmesh Tiwari as Somprabha's Brother
Short Summary: Somprabha is a beautiful and multi talented girl ready age to get married. Her father, mother and brother were happy for her and wanted to get her married. But, a giant demon has also vowed and promised them that he will take her away. This tensed the whole family. After some days, Somprabha's Father was travelling when group of bandits attacked his group then, a handsome and brave man,Vir Singh saved them with his weaponry and physical strength. Father gets impressed and offers him to get married to his daughter which he accepts. Somprabha's mother also meets a poet who had written about her charm, mother also offers him the same and he also accepted. At the same time, brother also offers the same to a engineer who had built a Viman, who also accepts.
5 "The Story of Padmavati and Prince Vajramukti" Rajni Bala as Dai Ma
Ramesh Bhatkar as Diwan's son
Satish Kaul as Prince Vajramukti
Rama Vij as Padmavati
Short Summary:Prince Vajramukti is a handsome Prince of a Kingdom.He is in friendship with his Diwan(Minister)'s Son.One day, both wandered around the forest where the Prince sees a beautiful girl and is smitten by her beauty. He asked her about her name, address and her father's occupation by which she replied by pointing herself with a lotus, touching her ear and acting as if uprooting the tooth. This puzzles Vajramukti and he asks his friend about it who easily solves the puzzles and knowns her whereabouts in Karnapur as Dentist's Daughter and named Padmavati. Then he finds out her and propose for marry which she positively answers. But, the King of Karnapur is also smitten by her and intends to marry her. Vajramukti is angered by it but his friend advised a peaceful way of solving the problem. The Diwan's son disguised as a thief steals Padmavati's Jewelry and then again disguised as a sage goes to king and says that the girl with the particular jewelry has enticed him sexually. This enraged the king and he immediately exiles padmavati who is then happily married to Vajramukti.

Question:Who is more sinful and culprit among the three Prince, Diwan's Son or the King?
Answer:The king is more sinful as Prince has loved the girl and Diwan's son is only helping his friend but the King had exiled a innocent girl without any proof or evidence.

6 "Rich Girl Accepts Thief as Husband " Vijay Arora as King Veerketu
Puneet Issar as Thief
Mulraj Rajda as Ratnasen
Rama Vij as the Rich Girl
Short Summary:King Veerketu is king of Ayodhya. He is tensed as his kingdom is rampaged by a unknown thief. He decides to nab the thief himself by disguising as thief himself. Meanwhile, a rich girl Manna meets a young man. The man impress her by his unique acrobatic and physical skills and talent. Manna begins to like him and vice-versa. Manna has a record of rejecting several qualified men as her suitor. Then the very night, the king(disguised) meets the thief (same young man) and befriends him. Then the thief reveals that he wanted to be a soldier but the corruption of ministers has kept him far from his aim. Then king reveals himself and nabs him. He is put on trial. Then, Manna's father vows to protect the thief as her daughter loved him and Manna wanted to marry him. This declaration makes the thief cry and laugh simultaneously. After learning all the truth and sake of friendship with the thief, Veerkutu released the thief and appoints him his Commander.

Question: Why the thief cries and laughs simultaneously after hearing the declaration of the Rich Man?
AnswerThe thief cries because as he knew he can't repay the deeds of the Manna and her father as he is going to die, and he laughed because he couldn't believe in his fate as Manna liked him over other qualified suitor.

7 "King Chandrasen and His Servant Satvasheel" Vijay Arora as King Chandrasen
Satish Kaul as Satvasheel
Rama Vij as the Sea Princess
Short Summary:
8 "Three Sensitive Brothers " Rajni Bala as the Court Singer
Sunil Lahri as the First Brother
Samir Rajda as Second Brother
Babloo Mukherjee ... Third Brother
Mulraj Rajda ... the King
Short Summary:
9 "The Husband, the Thief, and the Lover " Vijay Arora as the Husband
Ramesh Bhatkar as the Thief
Satish Kaul as the Lover
Sangeeta Naik as Madan Sena
Mulraj Rajda as Father-in-Law
Short Summary:
10 "The Prince and the Three Sensitive Sisters" Rajni Bala as Indulekha
Mohan Choti as Munim
Vijay Kavish as Prabandhak
Sunil Lahri as the Prince
Lilliput as the Servant
Rama Vij as Indulekha
Short Summary:
11 "Whom Will the Princess Marry?" Vijay Arora as the Birdman
Puneet Issar as the Brave Man
Satish Kaul as the Vaid
Vijay Kavish as the Weaver
Mulraj Rajda as the King
Rama Vij as the Princess
Short Summary: Once the princess decides to leave her palace and go around and visit places in her kingdom. On her way she meets a Birdman who understands and talks with birds. Impressed by his unique skill she asks him to come to the palace and teach her too. She then meets a Weaver whose woven cloth is very fine and has good export demand. She wishes that she could weave with such ability. On her journey ahead she falls ill and is hence treated by a Vaid (Doctor in Hindi language). Looking at the philanthropic work he does, she expresses that she too wishes to leave her palace and help poor people just like he does. On her way back home, she is attacked by dacoits and a Brave Man saves her. Back in her palace, the King decides that she should now get married and announces that all suitable Grooms can present themselves.
Question: Of the Birdman, Weaver, Doctor and the Brave Man who will the Princess marry?
Answer: Vikram replies that the Princess will marry the Brave Man as with him she would always be secure. Other attractions she had for other men would not last long enough.
12 "Who Is the Real Father" Rajni Bala as Bhagwati
Ramesh Bhatkar as the Greedy Man
Puneet Issar as the Thief
Babloo Mukherjee as Dhanwati's Son
Sangeeta Naik as Dhanwati
Mulraj Rajda as the King
Short Summary:
13 "The Giant and the Brave Boy" Vijay Arora as the King
Rajni Bala as the Boy's Mother
Deepika as the Queen
Lilliput as the Boy's Father
Sameer Rajda as the Brave Boy
Shamsuddin as the Giant
Short Summary:
14 "Love Is Eternal " Vijay Arora as Haridatt
Satish Kaul as Madhusudan
Kaajal Kiran as Madhumalti
Sunil Lahri as Vaman
Mulraj Rajda as Pandit
Short Summary:
15 "The Lover of Princess Chandraprabha" Ramesh Bhatkar as Mantri Putra
Deepika as Princess Chandraprabha
Vijay Kavish as the Magician's Son
Lilliput as the Magician
Babloo Mukherjee as Manu Kumar / Manu Kumari
Mulraj Rajda as the King
Short Summary:
16 "The Dilemma of Mahamantri and King Vallabh" Vijay Arora as King Vallabh
Rajni Bala ... Mahamantri's Wife
Ramesh Bhatkar ... Mahamantri
Lilliput as the Painter
Shamsuddin as Rakshas
Short Summary:
17 "The Unsuccessful Penance of Gunkar" Rajni Bala as Gunkar's Mother
Ramesh Bhatkar as The Saint
Vijayendra Ghatge as Gunkar
Lilliput as the Gambler
Mulraj Rajda as Gunkar's Father
Short Summary: Gunkar loses his poor father's all hard earned money in gambling. He is hence kicked out of the home. Wandering, he meets a saint who with his yogic powers can bring forth anything that one wants. Gunkar asks the saint to teach him power. Saint agrees and asks him to follow the two-fold way of attaining the power. Midway after completing first step Gunkar decides to go home and meet his family. He asks saint to bring in some clothes to take to his home as gifts. After returning, Gunkar finishes his second step. But he is not able to get the power.
Question: Betaal ask for what reason Gunkar could not attain the power although he did just as he was instructed by the saint?
Answer: Vikram answers that Gunkar failed as he did not follow the way properly as he was distracted and cut it into two and went home.
18 "The Story of Rajkumar and the Bird" Sunil Lahri as Rajkumar Jimutvahan
Lilliput as The Chief
Short Summary:
19 "The Gambling Temptation of Gopu" Ramesh Bhatkar as Gopu
Deepika as Ratna
Lilliput as the Gambler
Mulraj Rajda as Ratna's Father
Short Summary:
20 "The Realization of Prince Anandsen" Ramesh Bhatkar as Haribaba
Deepika as Princess Roopvati
Satish Kaul as Yuvraj Anandsen
Mulraj Rajda as Raja Dharamveer
Short Summary:
21 "The Legendary Love of Sukesh and Legendary Duty of King Dharamveer" Vijay Arora ... King Dharamveer
Rajni Bala as Pari
Suraj Chaddha as Sukesh
Anil Chaudhary as Mantri
Deepika as Nandini
Vijay Kavish as Divya Atma
Lilliput as Jadoogar Abhijeet
Vilas Raj as Pradhan Mantri
Mulraj Rajda as Yashwant Dubey
Vikram Sahu as Nagar Seth
Short Summary:
22 "The Love Story of Four Princes" Vijay Arora as Prince Govind
Ramesh Bhatkar as Prince Amar
Deepika as Rajkumari
Satish Kaul as Prince Ajay
Vijay Kavish as Chamatkari Yogi
Sunil Lahri as Prince Vijay
Lilliput as Rakshas
Vilas Raj as Vaidya
Mulraj Rajda as Rajah
Short Summary:
23 "The Justice of King Satyadev" Vijay Arora as Kavi Haribhat
Ramesh Bhatkar as Kaliya
Bandini Mishra as Rajkumari Priyavanda
Mulraj Rajda as Raja Satyadev
Hari Shukla as Raja Dharamdev
Short Summary:
24 "The Dreams of Dagdoo " Rajni Bala as Dagdoo's Mother
Paintal as Dagdoo
Mulraj Rajda as Maharaja
Short Summary:
25 "The Story of Greedy Apurva " Vijay Arora as Rajkumar Ambrish
Ramesh Bhatkar as Apurva
Anil Chaudhary as Vyapari
Deepika as Anjali
Sunil Lahri as Satyakam
Mulraj Rajda as Avinash
Short Summary:
26 "The Revenge of Nagin " Vijay Arora as Yuvraj Shaktinath
Rajni Bala as Princess Arundhati
Anil Chaudhary as Arundhati's Brother
Deepika as Nageshwari
Mulraj Rajda as Raja Hargovind Das
Short Summary:

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, March 31, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.