RooseveltMacCull at 04:12, 23 June 2025

2025-06-23T04:12:44Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian Television Series (2002)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
'''''Amrapali''''' was an Indian historical drama TV serial, directed by [[Ravi Kemmu]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020721/spectrum/tv.htm |title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2002-07-21 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k2/director/ravikemmu.htm |title=Indiantelevision dot com's interview with TV Director Ravi Kemmu |work=Indian Television Dot Com |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date=2002-07-03 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref> It was a big-budget (Rs 100 million) story depicting the world of around 600 B.C. The serial was broadcast on the [[Doordarshan]] National Network every Sunday at 11am, starting on 30 June 2002.

The story's central character was a young woman, [[Amrapali]], who was made the property of the state and elevated to a high position but forced into entertaining men.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2002/09/16/stories/2002091600030200.htm |title=The Hindu Business Line : A rarity called professionalism |publisher=Thehindubusinessline.in |date=2002-09-16 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081214/spectrum/main6.htm |title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref> Kemmu said at a press meeting that very little information is available about Amrapali, and her history is only known through the [[Jataka tales]].

''Amrapali'' was originally conceptualised as a serial of 104 parts. It called for a cast of 39 supported by a 500-strong crowd, 25 horses, several elephants, and 25 security personnel to guard a set that cost Rs 40 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/07/11/stories/2002071101000300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630180757/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/07/11/stories/2002071101000300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-06-30 |title=An artiste set to dazzle |date=2002-07-11 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k2/dec/dec28.htm |title=Indiantelevision dot com's Breaking News : 'Aamrapali' on lookout for overseas takers |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date=2002-12-05 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref>

==Personnel==
The lead role of Amrapali was played by [[Shilpa Shinde]]. Her name was recommended by her brother, who was working with [[Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd]]. Shilpa Shinde opted out of the show in October 2002 due to remuneration differences with the producer, after shooting 22 episodes of the serial. She was then replaced by [[Pooja Bharti]].<ref name="mid-day2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2002/oct/34908.htm |accessdate=15 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055721/http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2002/oct/34908.htm |archivedate=21 September 2013 }}</ref>

The serial was made by [[DVR Films]], presented by [[L.R. Enterprises]], researched by [[Bodhi Satva]], written by [[B.M. Vyas]], and produced by [[Dhillin Mehta]] and [[Daggubati Venkateswara Rao|D. Venkateshwar Rao]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/07/15/stories/2002071500710200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060339/http://hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/07/15/stories/2002071500710200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-09-21 |title=Another historical serial on DD |date=2002-07-15 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2002/07/08/stories/2002070800200400.htm |title=The Hindu Business Line : Here's something different |publisher=Thehindubusinessline.in |date=2002-07-08 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020630/nation.htm#9 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2002-06-30 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/prog/locat/y2k2/aamwri.htm |title=Inside programming: On the sets of Aamrapali |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref> Before the serial went on air, the originally nominated director [[Vijay Pande (film director)|Vijay Pande]] was replaced with Ravi Kemmu.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad-times/Straight-Answer/articleshow/15803007.cms |title=Straight Answer - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2002-07-12 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref>

==Cast==
* [[Shilpa Shinde]]/ Pooja Bharti as [[Amrapali]].
* Seema Kar
* [[Benjamin Gilani]] as Mahanaman, Amrapali's foster father
* [[Narendra Jha]] as Harsh (Amrapali's childhood love)
* Kanika Shivpuri
* [[Neelima Azeem]]
* [[Arun Bali]]
* [[Pankaj Berry]] as [[Bimbisara]]
* [[Rajesh Puri]]
* Vishnu Sharma
* [[Zaheeda Hussain|Zaheeda]]
* [[Manish Wadhwa]] as [[Ajatashatru]]
* [[Shahbaz Khan (actor)|Shahbaaz Khan]]

==Plot==
''Amrapali'' is set in ancient [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]]. It tells the story of the sudden transformation of a beautiful, innocent girl, Amrapali, into a mature adult.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/prog/locat/y2k2/aamra.htm |title=Inside programming: On the sets of Aamrapali |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref> Abandoned by her parents, Amrapali was found as an infant under a mango tree by Mahanaman. He took her to a village on the outskirts of Vaishali, where she grew up and fell in love with a man named Harsh.

Out of curiosity, she visits Vaishali to see the Phalguni Utsav organised every seven years to crown the new ''Janpath Kalyani'' of Vaishali. This title is given every seven years to the most beautiful and talented woman of the kingdom, who will then entertain the men of her choice.

Amrapali's visit to the utsav changes the course of her life. In a dramatic turn of events, she gets drunk and joins the group of beauties contending to become Janpath Kalyani. Later she works for the uplift of women and wages a battle to end the practice of Janpath Kalyani. In the process, she loses her beloved as well as her freedom, and embraces [[Buddhism]].

==Awards==
The serial ''Amrapali'' won [[Indian Television Academy Awards]] in 2002 in several categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gr8mag.com/posts.php?id=316 |title=GR8! TV Magazine - THE INDIAN TELEVISION ACADEMY AWARDS, 2002 |publisher=Gr8mag.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hindu.com/2002/09/26/stories/2002092604450900.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219101922/http://hindu.com/2002/09/26/stories/2002092604450900.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-19 |title=Southern Spectrum TV awards |date=2002-09-26 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref>
*Best Mythological/Historical Serial - D.Venkateshwar Rao / [[Dhilin Mehta]]
*Best Art Direction - Jayant Deshmukh<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmzone.in/jayantdeshmukh.html |title=Filmzone | Jayant Deshmukh |publisher=Filmzone.in |accessdate=2014-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060955/http://www.filmzone.in/jayantdeshmukh.html |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
*Best Costumes- Mala Dey
*Best Cinematography / Videography - Mahesh Talkad

==See also==
* [[Buddha (TV series)|''Buddha'' (television series)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120529222232/http://www.indiantelevisionacademy.com/site/awards_hhita_details_new.php?year=2002 2nd ITA Awards 2002]
*[https://www.facebook.com/ravi.kemmu Ravi Kemmu official Facebook]
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1398280/ Ravi Kemmu in IMDB]
*[https://www.facebook.com/pankaj.berry.18 Pankaj Berry official Facebook]
*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjubrg_amrapali-1_shortfilms ''Amrapali'' Episode 1]

[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:2002 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:Fiction about Buddhism]]
[[Category:Television series set in Ancient India]]
[[Category:Indian historical television series]]
[[Category:Indian courtesans drama series]]

Amrapali TV series - Revision history

RooseveltMacCull at 04:12, 23 June 2025