Just some of my commissions from 2022!

Make sure to check out the summarized version of this and other stories in my post about the second part of the Resurgence Era! (And disclaimer: this post is a quick creation that is not the result of years of research like an actual film would be, and thus may not match the storytelling/music that properly reflects the culture or the creative team.)

Background

With Disney taking more interest in non-European-based stories, they jump at the pitch of doing an Indian story influenced by the Naga from Hindu beliefs. Eventually, the story is altered to focus on a young woman who falls for a Naga prince, and influenced by stories from the Mahābhārata. Given the fact that the expected route is for them to go for a North Indian/Hindi influence and the fact that "RRR" became an unexpected global hit, they decide to focus on a fantasy kingdom influenced by South India, specifically during the Chola Empire. They hire Tarun Lak as a director (thanks to a Pixar recommendation), Zoya Akhtar as the screenwriter, and Chandrabose and M.M. Keeravani as the musical team. Wanting to keep the action true to epics in Indian culture, Disney decides to take a somewhat censored approach to the situation, opting for large-scale deaths that could be covered up akin to the avalanche in "Mulan," as well as making sure all the antagonists were non-human and faded to dust when being killed. While original plans included having a female warrior and a snarky male lead, both leads were softened to be more unique, making the female lead more shy and sweet while the male lead is aloof and brooding, though not unkind. While original plans opted for 2D animation, Disney eventually gets their way and the film goes for 3D, albeit a more paintery style influenced by Thanjavur/Tanjore art. Supposedly the lead is set to be voiced by Naomi Scott, but those rumors haven't been verified. The lead's color scheme is also made pink in order to distinguish her from other female Disney leads, seeing how Aurora was made over 70 years ago and had an unofficial rule over the color. Plus it goes with her complexion very well.

Plot

The Empire of Vanakilam is experiencing a time of peace and prosperity, until the demons attacked. They slaughter many in their leader's quest for power, and many tried to flee, among them a servant girl. Steadfast in her faith and of humble temperament, she is tasked by the gods to defeat the demons, sending help to her in many forms, including a serpent prince who vows his allegiance to her in the war to end the reign of evil. Though reserved, she must muster up her courage to save her homeland, or die trying.

Characters

(As usual, this is not a comprehensive list of characters by any stretch of the imagination, but some of the main players you need to know. The images below reflect my inspiration for either the characters' design and/or personality, along with serving as a visual aid to the reader of this post rather than just looking at text.)

Vishaka--A shy young woman who is a palace servant, she escapes the kingdom during the Karjanai's siege, and she lives in uncertainty that her family is still alive or that there is any hope for the kingdom. However, for all she has suffered, the gods favor Vishaka, and her devout faith is not wavered in these times, though her self-esteem is not as strong. She follows the divine will on the path to destroy Karjanai, and on this path, she gains respect for and confidence in herself, as well as chakrams to wield against wicked foes.

Nayan--A serpent prince who fell for Vishaka, and wishes to help her on her plight, taking the human form of an archer and vowing to protect her against all threats, and as he is able to sense the supernatural better than she can, he proves a powerful ally. While appearing intimidating, he's a rather kind and heartfelt man (snake).

Karjanai--A demon who sought to overthrow the emperor and take over the land, he is a being of malice and violence. As a result, most underestimate his intellect, but he is a skilled tactician and manipulator, satiating his bloodlust while still emotionally destroying his opponents. Vishaka's escape during the siege makes him round up her family and use them as hostages to persuade her to step down.

Songs

By Your Side--As a palace servant, Vishaka does her best to be indiscreet, constantly battling a feeling of imposter syndrome due to serving the royal family. She reminds herself of what an honor it is to serve the emperor and his family, as well as her family benefiting from her position.

Siege--Karjanai and his army attack without warning, massacring all in their way and taking over the empire with many casualties. Some of the royal family is killed, some go into hiding, and some become prisoners in the palace they called home. Having a divine sense of intuition, Vishaka manages to escape with her family, but not before being alerted that it is her destiny to defeat Vishaka, meaning she must journey separately from her family for the time being.

The Serpent's Path--Vishaka is guided by the gods to a serpent prince, Nayan. She asks him for his help to defeat Karjanai, which he accepts, not least because he has fallen for her at first sight. That said, he understands the task at hand and doesn't make his feeling apparent.

Mine--Karjanai manages to capture Vishaka's mother and younger brother, while her father and older siblings try to rescue them. He explains to them that everything that gleams under the sun belongs to him: every person, every animal, every plant, every building. And they would all bow to him eventually.

Life and Death--As Vishaka and Nayan do battle against Karjanai, Vishaka questions is she's come far enough to defeat him, and what it means for those she cares about if she fails. For the sake of the empire,

Burned Into Memory--With Karjanai destroyed, Vishaka is appointed to being an advisor to the emperor, and her wedding to Nayan becomes a national holiday to remember them retaking the empire from Karjanai.

कॉमिक्स समीक्षा: नाग प्रलोप - नागराज और तौसी (राज काॅमिक्स बाय संजय गुप्ता) - (Comics Review - Nag Pralop - Nagraj Aur Tausi - Raj Comics By Sanjay Gupta)

Raj Comics-By Sanjay Gupta

#ComicsByte #bookreview #comics #graphicnovel #reviews #comicbooks #RajComics

नरक नाशक नागराज वॉल्यूम 2 और 3 - राज कॉमिक्स बाय संजय गुप्ता (Narak Nashak Nagraj Volume 2 And 3 - Raj Comics By Sanjay Gupta)

Raj Comics-By Sanjay Gupta

#ComicsByte #RajComics #comics #comicbooks #popculture #Nagraj #superhero

नागराज डाइजेस्ट 2 और 3 - राज कॉमिक्स बाय संजय गुप्ता (Nagraj Digest 2 And 3 - Raj Comics By Sanjay Gupta)

Raj Comics-By Sanjay Gupta

#ComicsByte #RajComics #Nagraj #comics #NewRelease #superhero