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IMDbPro

Chanakya

  • TV Series
  • 1990–1992
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
9.3/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Chanakya (1990)
Period DramaDramaHistory

This is a historical saga of establishing the Mauryan Empire in IndiaThis is a historical saga of establishing the Mauryan Empire in IndiaThis is a historical saga of establishing the Mauryan Empire in India

  • Stars
    • Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
    • Kurush Deboo
    • Dinesh Shakul
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.3/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
      • Kurush Deboo
      • Dinesh Shakul
    • 46User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes48

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season

    Photos6

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
    Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
    • Vishnugupt…
    • 1990–1992
    Kurush Deboo
    Kurush Deboo
    • Cliturcus
    • 1990–1992
    Dinesh Shakul
    • Chandragupta Maurya
    • 1990–1992
    Chhaya Vora
    Chhaya Vora
    • Ambhi's First Wife
    • 1991–1992
    Prakash Dwivedi
    • Pauravraj…
    • 1992
    Mahendra Raghuvanshi
    • Kaaljayi
    • 1991
    Haris Umar Khan
    • Prince Shukesh…
    • 1992
    Sanjay Mishra
    Sanjay Mishra
    • Nipunak
    • 1990–1992
    Hemant M. Pandya
    Hemant M. Pandya
    • RAVAN
    • 1990
    Neena Gupta
    Neena Gupta
    • Shweta
    • 1990
    Malvika Tiwari
    • Kalyani
    • 1990
    Navneet Nishan
    Navneet Nishan
    • Shonotra
    • 1990
    Sudhir Dalvi
    Sudhir Dalvi
    • Ambhiraj
    • 1990
    Pramod Moutho
    Pramod Moutho
    • Magadh's Maha Mantri (Prime Minister) Shaktar
    • 1990
    Deepraj Rana
    Deepraj Rana
    • Akshay
    • 1990
    Ashok Banthia
    Ashok Banthia
    • Indradutt
    • 1990
    Sanjay M Bhatia
    • Urmil
    • 1990
    Siraj Syed
    • Mahamantri Sushen
    • 1990
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews46

    9.32.9K
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    Featured reviews

    10m00a00d

    The serial shows the efforts of Vishnu Gupt Chanakya, a great scholar, economist, and politician.

    The serial has been made very well, and the acting of the main character, Chanakya, played by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi is stunning. The language and its articulation give a very good impression of the theme.

    On the translation of Greek, which was done using English, I would expect betterment of accent, but this was a very small part of the serial.

    All together, the work is wonderful, and there is no doubt that it was recognized by academy and people. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi's articulation, expression, and body language are worth praising.

    The historical aspect of the serial is the most important. The theme of the work seems to be fiction, but it is not. It is a reality Bharat (India) witnessed long time ago. There are many lessons that can be learned from the serial, e.g. the concept of nation that is united by values and history and the existence of various states within the nation, tension between states, personal benefit and national benefit, nationalism, etc.

    Watching the serial will provoke many philosophical thoughts in the mind of the viewer.
    10tp-marshallmathers

    Every Indian should watch this !!

    A very well made and a must watch show for all. This is our history, it's sad that Genius like Chanakya is not known in today's world, every school should teach about him.
    10chanakya69

    Excellent, most well-researched Indian tele-serial to date.

    Chanakya (written/directed, and played by Dr.Chandraprakash Dwivedi) is a class of its own. Though the tele-serial did not do well when telecast on Doordarshan (the Indian national television), the amount of research that went into producing the serial, the historical accuracy, and the care taken in costume every aspect of production is remarkable.

    The background music is played only by instrument that were prevalent in 3rd century BC. You will also notice that the Indian horsemen will ride without saddles (which was not introduced to India before Alexander's visit to Takshasila.) The swords and shields used was also a replica of those from the Mauryan times. The most commendable aspect being the setting itself. Dr.Chandraprakash Dwivedi spent over 1 crore (10 million) rupees back in those days, for reconstructing a replica village/city of the Mauryan times. Though the city is not 100% a replica of 3rd Century Pataliputra or Takshasila, it is remarkably planned and structured as per the definitions given in Chanakya's book - the Arthashastra.

    Chanakya Kautilya has been my role model since I was 7 years old. This is a man who's very thoughts will send shivers down your spine, and his insights will help you in every aspect of life - be it business, politics, or domestic affairs.

    I own the eight part DVD of "Chanakya" tele-serial and have seen it over and over in the past three years. Once I play the first episode, I know for sure that I am incapable of watching anything else till we finish the entire set.

    This serial is recommended for history buffs, students of politics, and common folks like me who love Chanakya.
    10amitishu

    Best ever Political, Knowledgeable, Historic in true self series

    never saw a series like this before. You cant see a series like this before. A pure historic projection , without any fiction or a filler , no Dramatic effects. !! just perfect! After Watching Mahabharta This is the one I like the Most!So all of you 21th centuries people have a look on this awesome seires !
    10songokuabhi

    EXCELLENT: would give it a 100 stars.

    Chanakya is a 47-part Indian television historical drama written and directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi and is based on events occurring between 340 BCE and 321/20 BCE, starting with Vishnugupta's(moniker of Chanakya) boyhood and culminating in the coronation of Chandragupta Maurya. Chandraprakash Dwivedi played the title role of Chanakya.

    So the director features as an actor himself and to top it all, the protagonist of all characters. Kudos to him, who was supposed to only be a part of the scripting but had to direct it after a fallout with the to-be director. Thank God for that, else CHANAKYA would have been something and someone else.

    The actors are apt, their acting perfect, not over-the-top as is the case with much other tele-serials of that era.The scripting and dialogues are perfect, as would have been in that ancient period, so is the background score, replete with shlokas and excerpts from the VEDAS and UPANISHADS.

    The icing on the cake are the costumes and setting locations etc. They really look like a MAHAJANAPAD of that ancient period.

    Only One complaint: The series should have been longer. Then we would have had more to enjoy and learn.

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    Related interests

    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi director of this series has also played the title role of Chanakya.

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 8, 1991 (India)
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Official site
      • YouTube
    • Language
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • Чанакья
    • Production company
      • Shagun Film Creations
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 45m
    • Color
      • Color

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