Game of Thrones - Made in India?

It’s time we make peace with the fact that the entire cosmos surrounding GOT is actually ‘Made In India’

Let’s establish two things here :

i)                    I am huge Game of Thrones fan myself.

ii)                   This blog does not aim to hurt the sentiments of fellow GOT fans, it is just a mere comparison and a fun take on the series. 

When we all started watching Game of Thrones, we realised that such gore and explicit content could never be replicated in India and that nobody in the right mind would agree to produce a show like this. Even if they did, it would just be a sad rip off. So Game of Thrones became the show everyone binge watched and those who did not, let’s just say they don't matter.  For a minute or so let us forget and not think of all the nudity and gore in Game of Thrones. Almost every character in the series possess some traits that we might recognise as 'very Indian'. It is also possible to draw parallels between, not all but a few incidents in the series and Indian society. 

So, let’s start with the shaming nun. This character represents all the Indian aunties and uncles who have the ability to humiliate those Cersei’s already facing the terrible consequences of their decisions. The gossip mongers that they are – this is their dream! To be the first to yell “Shame” and strip any person of all their dignity for a fleeting moment of moral superiority. The only good thing about it is that they don’t make you parade the streets without your clothes. Although, every little rumour spreads like wildfire and every time you cross paths with them, the death stare is all that you’re greeted with.

Second, Indians are well known for pompous and very colourful weddings, literally and figuratively. Most weddings look like they’ve been borrowed from a fairytale, but that’s how we do it.  So does the West, with their Red Purple weddings in Game of Thrones. For those who haven’t watched the series, we’re not talking about the decoration or the colour palette of the theme. We’re talking about the result of mixing masculinity with alcohol, for those who cannot handle either of these. Clearly the people in the West and George RR Martin were unaware of the marriage ceremonies that take place in UP and Bihar where a wedding is considered incomplete unless half a dozen guests are wheeled into the ICU.

Third, and this character is the mainstay of the show. Ekta Kapoor inspired character, Jon Snow is the Mihir of Indian soaps. He is the only character who has convinced viewers of his flair for melodrama. Although, it doesn’t help that he keeps dying and then coming back to life, because after a point it’s just not plausible. But on the brighter side, the fact that he single handedly battles white walkers and innumerable characters including estranged family members and heroically overcomes all obstacles is every role Amitabh Bachchan has ever played in Bollywood. No matter how melodramatic it looks or sounds on screen,  we  still hope he will become King of the North. Although, Ekta Kapoor could give Martin some tips on bringing the dead back to life and making it look conceivable.

Daenerys Targaryen, breaker of chains, mother of dragons and everything else about her makes her the perfect example of the over-achiever. She’s like those kids in class, timid, soft and probably a broken teenager who goes on to become a ferocious queen, freeing the oppressed and planning to take over all the seven kingdoms. She can tame fire and emerged from her husband’s funeral pyre unscathed. She also happened to give birth to non-human creatures. Now, how is this related to the Indian scenario – There’s a love triangle. And one of them has been friend zoned. 

Finally, the underlying theme of the series might require blood and gore and sex to push the narrative forward but that's not all there is to it. The series is much more than what has been described on this blog. It reflects considerable storytelling that calls for extensive research into the medieval fantasy epic and one of the very series that actually keep you engaged.