View source for Shaktimaan (franchise)

{{Short description|Superhero media franchise}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox media franchise
| image = 
| caption = Mukesh Khanna in a still from [[Shaktimaan]]
| creator = {{ubl|Mukesh Khanna| Dinkar Jani|Ghalib Asad Bhopali|Brij Mohan Pandey}}
| origin = ''[[Shaktimaan]]''
| years = 1997–present
| books = 
| novels = 
| comics = 
| magazines = 
| strips = 
| films = ''[[Shaktimaan (film)]]'' (TBD)
| tv_films = ''Hamara Hero Shaktimaan'' (2013)
| tv_series = {{ubl|''[[Shaktimaan]]'' (1997–2005)|''Shaktimaan is Back'' (TBD)}}
| atv = {{ubl
|''[[Shaktimaan: The Animated Series]]'' (2011)
|''Shaktimaan'' (TBD)
}}
| plays = 
| musicals = 
| games = 
| rpgs = 
| vgs = ''Shaktimaan''<br/>''Shaktimaan: Tab''
| radio = 
| soundtracks = 
| music = 
| toys = 
| otherlabel1 = 
| otherdata1 = 
| otherlabel2 = 
| otherdata2 = 
| otherlabel3 = 
| otherdata3 = 
}}
'''''Shaktimaan''''' is an Indian [[superhero fiction|superhero]] [[media franchise]] consisting of TV series, comic books and films. The original work is ''[[Shaktimaan]]'', which was produced by [[Mukesh Khanna]] under his banner Bheeshm International and directed by Dinkar Jani and Vikram Veturi.

==Production==
'''''Shaktimaan''''' was conceptualised by [[Mukesh Khanna|Khanna]] in 1981 when he was working on a [[film]] with [[Rajshri Productions]]. He narrated the idea to producer Rajkumar Barjatya, who liked it, and the two adapted it into a film titled ''Akash''. In November 1997, ''[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]'' reported quoted him: "I would watch my [[nephew]] sitting glued to the TV whenever ''Power Zone'' came on, shooting with imaginary fire guns, or operating some imaginary hi-fi [[gadget]] in his own little world. That's when it struck me that if I made ''Shaktimaan'' I would have a readymade audience of [[youth|kids]] who are always most impressed with [[Special effects|SFX]] tricks." Over the development of the titular [[character (arts)|character]], [[Mukesh Khanna|Khanna]] said, "In [[Hindu mythology|Indian mythology]], there are a lot of strong characters but no super-heroes. All we get to see our [[Superman]] or [[Spider-Man]], who are [[wikt:alien|alien]] concepts. That's why I decided to create an Indian superhero, Shaktimaan, who is born out of a [[yagna]], and a result of all the creative [[energies]] of the [[universe]]. A [[superhero]] who can [[fly]]... disappear. And when he is not in his super-hero [[Dual role|avataar]], he's a bumbling [[photographer]] who always misses scooping much to the chagrin of his boss Geeta Vishwas." He added that the attire of Shaktimaan's alter ego, "complete with buck teeth and floppy hair", was inspired by American comedian [[Jerry Lewis]].<ref name="screen">{{cite web |title=Mukesh Khanna: No More Mythological |url=http://www.screenindia.com/nov14/tele1.htm |website=Screen |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031031211440/http://www.screenindia.com/nov14/tele1.htm |archive-date=31 October 2003 |date=November 1997}}</ref>

Having wanted the "best ever" special effects seen on Indian television, following the series' airing, [[Mukesh Khanna|Khanna]] felt that it "[fell] is short of [his] expectations". He added, "When I had planned the serial I wanted the kind of special effects seen in ''[[Superman]]'', ''[[Spider-Man]]'' and ''[[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]]''. Maybe I was too ambitious. [[Computer graphics]] has just arrived in [[India]] and there is lack of trained professionals here." He further said, the special effects for each episode cost him {{INR}}2 [[lakh]], and {{INR}}10 lakh overall.<ref name="screen"/>
In 2004 Sign language interpretation was launched for the social message given at the end of the episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040201/spectrum/tv.htm|title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television|website=www.tribuneindia.com|access-date=2023-02-26|archive-date=2022-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210104419/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040201/spectrum/tv.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The series was sponsored by [[Parle-G]] from its first episode.<ref name="screen"/>

In 2019, [[Mukesh Khanna|Khanna]] revealed through his [[YouTube]] channel Bheeshm International that the show had to be cancelled because the high broadcasting charges were bringing him losses, and not due to complaints of [[children]] imitating [[stunts]] from the [[Television show|show]] as popularly believed.<ref>{{cite news|title=14 साल बाद मुकेश खन्ना ने बयां किया दर्द, इस वजह से बंद करना पड़ा था 'शक्तिमान'|url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/mukesh-khanna-on-shaktimaan-why-this-show-off-air|access-date=7 January 2021|work=Amar Ujala|date=17 August 2019|language=hi|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614053035/https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/mukesh-khanna-on-shaktimaan-why-this-show-off-air|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Television series==

=== Shaktimaan (1997–2005) ===
{{main| Shaktimaan}}
''Shaktimaan'' ({{langx|hi|शक्तिमान}}) is a fictional Indian [[superhero]] from the television series of the same name which aired on [[DD National]] from 27 September 1997 to 27 March 2005 on Sundays. The series was produced by [[Mukesh Khanna]] and directed by [[Dinkar Jani]]. It has also aired on [[Pogo TV|Pogo]] in English,<ref name="telegraphindia">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050615/asp/calcutta/story_4870084.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104212825/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050615/asp/calcutta/story_4870084.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2013|title=Screen On & Off|date=15 June 2005|accessdate= 25 November 2011|work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> Tarang in [[Odia language|Odia]] and Chutti TV in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and repeated its Hindi telecast on [[STAR Utsav]]. [[Mukesh Khanna]] plays the roles of Shaktimaan and his [[alter ego]] Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, a photographer for the newspaper ''Aaj Ki Aawaz''. Shaktimaan is depicted as a human who has attained superhuman strength and power through deep meditation and attaining control over five elements of life. [[Kitu Gidwani]], and later [[Vaishnavi Mahant]] plays the role of [[Geeta Vishwas]], a reporter in the series who loves Shaktimaan. [[Surendra Pal]] plays the role of Tamraj Kilvish.

=== Shaktimaan: The Animated Series (2011–2012) ===
''[[Shaktimaan: The Animated Series]]'' is an Indian animated [[action film|action]] series based on the live-action series ''[[Shaktimaan]]''. It is created by Reliance Animation and was aired on [[Sonic-Nickelodeon|Sonic]] on 20 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-superhero-shaktimaan-gets-animated/258856-44-124.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519152839/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-superhero-shaktimaan-gets-animated/258856-44-124.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-05-19|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title=Shaktimaan in 3D soon| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/Shaktimaan-in-3D-soon/articleshow/12392913.cms| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906225359/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-25/tv/31233514_1_shaktimaan-superhero-films| url-status=live| archive-date=6 September 2012|date=25 March 2012|access-date=10 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|author=Aparna Phadke}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PDAET/articleshow/10943572.cms |title=Viacom18 to launch new channel Sonic for young adults this month |newspaper=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=16 December 2011 |archive-date=27 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527044805/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PDAET/articleshow/10943572.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017 [[Discovery Kids (India)|Discovery Kids]] acquired the rights of syndication from Reliance Entertainment.<ref name=Moviez>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/discovery-kids-to-air-movies-every-weekend-throughout-2017|title=Discovery Kids to air Shaktimaan|date=26 December 2016|accessdate=26 December 2016|archive-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229073939/http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/discovery-kids-to-air-movies-every-weekend-throughout-2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Shaktimaan (TBD) ===
In October 2019, Mukesh Khanna announced himself that a [[3D animation|3D animated series]] will be launched in future, with its teaser launching on 7 December 2019 at [[Comic Con India]] 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/exclusive-shaktimaan-getting-animated-wordsword-creations-3d|title=Exclusive: 'Shaktimaan' is getting animated by WordSword Creations in 3D|date=9 December 2019|access-date=9 January 2020|archive-date=10 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110143545/http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/exclusive-shaktimaan-getting-animated-wordsword-creations-3d|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Film ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Films !! Producer   !! Status 
|-
|2013
|''Hamara Hero Shaktimaan''
| [[Bheeshm International]]
| Released on [[Pogo TV]] [[Telefilm]]
|-
|TBA
|style="background:#FFFFCC;"|[[Shaktimaan (film)]]{{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}''
|Producing with [[Sony Pictures|Sony Pictures International]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-10|title=Shaktimaan film teaser: Desi superhero to make big screen debut soon 'with one of India's major superstars'. Watch|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/shaktimaan-film-teaser-desi-superhero-to-make-big-screen-debut-soon-with-one-of-india-s-major-superstars-watch-101644497252480.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=2022-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212075527/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/shaktimaan-film-teaser-desi-superhero-to-make-big-screen-debut-soon-with-one-of-india-s-major-superstars-watch-101644497252480.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Announced 
|}

==Cast and characters==
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Character
!| Live-action TV series
!| Television film
!| Animated TV series
|-
!  width:10%;"| ''[[Shaktimaan]]'' <br>(1997-2005)
!  width:10%;"| ''[[Hamara Hero Shaktimaan]]'' <br>(2013)
!  width:10%;"| ''[[Shaktimaan: The Animated Series]]'' <br>(2011)
|-
! Pt. Gangadhar VIdyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri/Shaktimaan
| colspan="2" | [[Mukesh Khanna]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! [[Vehaan Arya]]/Shaktimaan
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Jason Griffith]] (Voice)
|-
! Gita Viswas
| [[Kitu Gidwani]]<br>[[Vaishnavi Mahant]]
| [[Manasi Salvi]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Lina Ray
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| Suzy Myers (Voice)
|-
! Tamraj Kilvish
| colspan="2" |[[Surendra Pal]]
| [[Scott Rayow]] (Voice)
|-
! Dr. Jackol
| [[Lalit Parimoo]]<br>[[Arun Bakshi]]
| [[Gufi Paintal]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Mahaguru
|  colspan="2" |[[Tom Alter]]
| [[Michael Alston Bailey]] (Voice)
|-
! Sahab / Kumar Ranjan
| [[Raman Khatri]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Durandhar Singh
| [[Raju Shrivastav]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Kaushaliyaa
| [[Manjeet Kullar]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Shalaaka / Kaali Billi
| [[Ashwini Kalsekar]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Shaliyaa / Safed Billi
| [[Dolly Minhas]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Naurangee
| [[Kishore Bhanushali]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Prof. Viswas
| [[Rajendra Gupta]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Mayor Jai Kumar Janardan / Kakodar
| [[Nawab Shah]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Paroma
| [[Deepshikha]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Sheraali
| [[Deepshikha]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Queen Mayaadri
| [[Sunila Karambelkar]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Bankelal / Toyman
| [[Brij Mohan Pandey]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Kaamini
| [[Nupur Alankaar]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! The Villain Alien
| [[Shikha Swaroop]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Bilas Rao
| [[Goga Kapoor]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Matandeeka
| [[Mohini Ghosh]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Inspector Jai Singh
| [[Deepraj Rana]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Satyaprakash Nirala
| [[Sharad Smart]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Maansi Sharma
| [[Urvashi Dholkia]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Teemira / Behroopia
| [[Annu kashyap]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Maansi
| [[Neelam Mehra]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Dr. Gyaani
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Mike Pollock (voice actor)|Mike Pollock]] (Voice)
|-
! Tick
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Marc Thompson (voice actor)|Marc Thompson]] (Voice)
|-
! Tock
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Sean Schemmel]] (Voice)
|-
! Bumpy
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Tom Wayland]] (Voice)
|-
! General D’Cruze
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| David Manis (Voice)
|-
! Major Geek
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Dan Green (voice actor)|Dan Green]] (Voice)
|}

== Controversies ==
When ''Shaktimaan'' first aired on Doordarshan, there were a lot of controversies created as children set themselves on fire or jumped off buildings hoping that Shaktimaan would save them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/81040/ |newspaper=Indian Express |title=The Shaktimaan effect |date=22 February 1999 |accessdate=22 October 2011 |archive-date=10 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010040536/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/the-shaktimaan-effect/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In an effort to promote responsible behaviour among children, Mukesh Khanna spent a substantial part of the airtime in explaining to the children that the stunts shown on television were not real and should not be emulated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/section/entertainment/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121100707/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000922/tclos.htm|url-status=dead|title=Entertainment News: Latest Hollywood & Bollywood News, Movies Releases & Reviews|archivedate=21 January 2010|website=The Indian Express}}</ref> Khanna also stated that most of the controversies were fake and were raised in media to undermine its popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/essays.nsf/%28docid%29/9C256C945E192F326525693F00383C61 |publisher=The New Indian Express |title='Shaktimaan' deaths instigated:Producer |date=9 January 1999 |accessdate=22 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022402/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/essays.nsf/(docid)/9C256C945E192F326525693F00383C61 |archivedate=5 April 2012 }}</ref>

==Comic Books==
A series of comic books appeared featuring Shaktimaan and published in many Indian languages as well as English in association with [[Diamond Comics]] and [[Raj Comics]].{{fact|date=December 2023}}

==Merchandise==
Shaktimaan merchandise like costumes, stickers, dolls were introduced in the market.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/mukesh2.htm |title='Bheeshma' Khanna has it in for Bollywood : Mukesh Khanna &#124; Indian Television Dot Com |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date=2002-11-26 |accessdate=2020-01-16 |archive-date=2020-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116023410/https://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/mukesh2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Games==
{{Excerpt|Shaktimaan: The Animated Series|Games}}

==Awards and nominations==
''[[Shaktimaan: The Animated Series]]'' won 2012 FICCI BAF award for best animated TV series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/blog/shaktimaan-wins-2012-ficci-baf-award-best-animated-tv-episode|title=SHAKTIMAAN WINS 2012 FICCI BAF AWARD FOR "BEST ANIMATED TV EPISODE"|website=Animation World Network|access-date=2020-01-09|archive-date=2022-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916032511/https://www.awn.com/blog/shaktimaan-wins-2012-ficci-baf-award-best-animated-tv-episode|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q3345441|id=tt0389680|title=Shaktimaan}}
* [http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/mukesh1.htm Interview with Mukesh Khanna] at Indiantelevision.com

[[Category:Television superheroes]]
[[Category:Indian superheroes]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1997]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:Shaktimaan]]
[[Category:Television controversies in India]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into video games]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into films]]
[[Category:2010s Indian films]]