Strong response for 'Kahaani Hamaaray..' in India, abroad:Ekta

New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) Her version of the epic Mahabharta 'Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki' may have drawn flak from several quarters with critics lashing out at the series for its lackluster performances and poor production value but the 'Queen of Soaps' believes that it is a highly rated show on the small screen.

''It has been a highly rated show show on the 9X General Entertainment channel. More interestingly, it has got a very strong response across the country and we have started its Tamil version on September 15 on Raj TV. With its launch in many languages, I feel that we are creating a very strong audience base,'' Ekta said.

Addressing a press meet in the Capital this weekend, Ekta Kapoor said the show had also been creating waves in abroad.

Informing that the turn point in the epic TV series would begin shortly with October 1 seeing 'Kauravas' and 'Pandavas' attaining adulthood.

''From October 1, the Pandavas and Kauravas will be seen as adults and no longer as adolescents. The turn point in the series starts now with 'Kansa vadh' (killing of Kansa by Krishna), the Krishna-Radha separation and, of course, the mighty Pandavas coming into adulthood. Actually, the real story begins from now on,'' Ekta said.

On a deluge of criticism from media circles and critics, she said, ''I think its too early and unfair for anybody to pass a judgement on the show so soon. We have just had 45 episodes. The earlier 'Mahabharata', made by B R Chopra, had 108 episodes. Let us first reach that point and then one can make any judgement about its merits.'' At the same time, she dismissed claims that the show was evoking a poor response.

''The series has evoked a lot of curiosity for its brilliant special effects and identifiable characters. In fact, there is a huge number of viewers who have not seen B R Chopra's 'Mahabharat' but after watching 'Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki' developed a curiosity about the earlier Mahabharat,'' the queen of soaps said.

She said it was a challenge for her to ensure that 'Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki' was able to establish a niche for itself among the audience.

She said, ''Making 'Kahaani..' was a very bold vision and we have been making all efforts to translate our vision on the small screen. It is a challenge for us to ensure that our show establishes a niche for itself among the TV viewers.'' ''For example, before starting the series, I carried out extensive research along with my team wherein I studied various written texts on the epic, all of which told the story of the battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas from a different perspective.

Further, an elaborate set was constructed for shooting of the series, which also boasts of an extensive use of special effects.

''Making the series has been an exciting journey firstly because it was the first time I was dabbling with special effects and secondly with an epic of such huge proportions,'' Ekta said.

Incidentally, the series is being aired in the United Kingdom from Monday.

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