Siddharth Kumar Tewary of Swastik Productions is well known for producing shows such as Mahakaali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai. He also produced and directed the 260-episode series Porus, which is a historical drama about Alexander the Great and the Indian king Porus. The show is supposed to be one of the most expensive ones ever made for Indian television.
The writer, director, and producer has taken the standard of television to new heights with his foray and vision. His shows are known to be grand, have renowned celebrities, and appealing subjects and stories. Siddharth recently launched mythological show RadhaKrishn on Star Bharat.
TellyChakkar got in touch with the multitalented man. Here are excerpts.
1. Tell us about RadhaKrishn. What makes it different from all other shows that have been made on the life of Lord Krishna?
We're attempting the first ever mythological love story depicting the epic saga of Radha and Krishna on television. Our first promo depicts the premise in just two sentences: ‘Jag karta hai prem, prem pane ke liye; inhone kiya prem, prem samjhane ke liye.’ The idea is to show Indian culture and how we wore our colors, and to depict the world that has caught our fancy and imagination. Along with a deep message of love, we have recorded 20 new soulful tracks, a mix of romantic melodies and Ras Leela tunes that are imperative to narrating the traditional story of Krishna as described in the Hindi scriptures.
2. You wear multiple hats of a writer, director, and producer. Does that make executing your ideas easier or make it difficult for you to balance all the roles perfectly?
I believe that I am a writer first! Before starting out on my own, I worked in the marketing department of a channel, later progressing to the programming side. I had a story to tell! You can always write and direct for others, but as a producer, you have the power to create and bring that story to life that you believe in and see it through.
I enjoy writing the most, as it makes me feel liberated, but at the same time, being a producer is a plus point, because that helps me tell a story the way I want. Hence, for me, it all goes hand-in-hand and works well in synergy.
3. You are known as the King of Mythology on Indian television. What is it about the genre that appeals to you the most? What kind of research do you do to be able to show accuracy in depicting the mythological characters and events?
Mythology as a genre purely stems from creative decisions. Numbers were never the driving force. I began my journey with a story that was close to my heart, Amber Dhara.... I later wanted to break the clutter and create premium content. India is a culturally rich country, and for Indians, mythology and history are an integral part of our culture. India was a first-world nation, and we had prosperity. We were not only culturally rich but also a rich nation, and that is what we, as content creators, are depicting through our stories and shows on television.
When you do the research, it is done specific to the subject as well as the time period and specific year. RadhaKrishn is the result of a long process. We sowed the seeds 2 years ago, but it wasn't easy. I have traveled extensively with my team to the remotest areas of India, which the scriptures speak of, and heard their stories. Furthermore, we also set up a research team under the guidance of Dr. Kanan, who has earlier penned a book based on the life of Lord Krishna. We're exploring and learning every day.
4. Don't you ever feel that you’ll be typecast in one particular genre?
We have a very deep history. I would call it history rather than mythology, because as a nation, we celebrate Diwali as well as Navratri. We have a very deep-rooted culture and it’s these stories that are relevant for every generation, regardless of how old they are. Another important aspect is that the whole family can sit together and watch these stories. The objective is to watch something, be entertained, as well as learn something. So, as you entertain people, you also give them thoughts on how to live life. It’s very appealing from the content point of view.
I have written as well as produced shows, and while our recent content may have been mythological and historical, we as a production house have dabbled with all the genres out there. My first story was Amber Dhara, a story based on the lives of conjoined twins. Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo was a novel concept and garnered positive feedback for its progressive content. I'll always produce content I feel for, irrespective of the genre, and try to do it with the same conviction as I have done for many other shows.
5. How has Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., impacted television viewership and TRPs? With so much content and variety available on these live streaming platforms, what makes the audience come back to TV? Do you ever plan to create a show for these platforms?
It’s very interesting to see how all these platforms are coexisting. In addition, these platforms aren't limited to the Indian border, as they have content that a global audience can enjoy. I think it’s a great time for content, as there's an audience out there for all types of content. Language is no more a boundary. We would also love to create content for different platforms, but it’s too early to speak about it right now.
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