Colors set to create dangal in the New Year with Kesari Nandan

Launching on January 1, 2019, Colors’ new offering is the story of a young girl, who right from her womb had to ‘wrestle’ to survive, had to ‘wrestle’ to give life to her dreams, and she continued to ‘wrestle’ till she brought home the Olympic Gold. Produced by Contiloe Pictures and presented by Dabur Gulabari, ‘Kesari Nandan’, is based in Rajasthan and the storyline seems to be heavily influenced by Aamir Khan’s blockbuster ‘Dangal’.

The journey begins in Rajasthan where Hanumant Singh trains young guns for wrestling in his akhada. He is a man who believes that men and women have set roles in the society and must remain confined to them. He is also a father who aspires for his son to win the country an Olympic gold medal in wrestling, however, it’s his daughter Kesari who secretly harbors the desire to uphold her father’s legacy. With an undeterred resolve, Kesari sets off to do something unthinkable much against the will of her father and challenging mindsets along the way.

The launch event for the upcoming show saw two of India’s leading sportswomen, Geeta Phogat and Mary Kom, come together in support of the show and the #KhelKesari movement.

Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head - Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network, Viacom18, commented, “‘Kesari Nandan’ is about an unlikely protagonist who braves all obstacles to become a national hero in a sport that continues to be associated with machismo and virility. It’s a poignant portrayal of a father-daughter equation that transcends beyond the four corners of their middle-class household to an akhada and eventually to the wrestling ring of the Olympics. We have devised an impactful on-air campaign called #KhelKesari to promote the spirit of sportsmanship and encourage women to take up sports. With support from stalwarts like Geeta Phogat and Mary Kom, we want to inspire girls to dream big and become beacons of change.”

She further added, “The New Year will mark the advent of a fresh line-up of relatable content that will add newness to our bouquet of offerings. We will begin the year with the weekday prime-time, ‘Kesari Nandan’. The weekend primetime will be bolstered by ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ and a crime-drama called ‘Courtroom’. Further along the way, we have gripping concepts in the form of ‘Jhaansi Ki Rani’ and ‘Gath Bandhan’ that will make the channel distinct and diverse.”

Speaking about the concept of the show, Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “After having presented to its viewers numerous shows with social messages and having in some way contributed to societal changes through these shows, Colors now brings to its loyal viewers a truly inspiring tale of this cute little aspirational girl called Kesari. She is someone who challenges the societal stereotype and triumphs her dream of becoming a champion wrestler albeit with the acknowledgement of her father. ‘Kesari Nandan’ captures the beautiful journey of this zesty, determined, hardworking young girl who overcomes difficult challenges to accomplish what she desires the most. It indeed is the story of every girl who dares to dream big and chase that dream, just like Ms Mary Kom and Ms Geeta Phogat, who have come forward to further this cause.” 

Abhimanyu Singh, CEO, Contiloe Pictures, added here, “‘Kesari Nandan’ is as close to reality as it gets. We have put in all resources to make the show look as authentic as possible. It’s an endearing story of a super positive girl who despite all odds embarks on a journey to conquer a male dominated wrestling world.”

At the launch, wrestler Geeta Phogat said, “I applaud Colors for choosing a concept like ‘Kesari Nandan’. It is both unique and real and highlights the struggles that women have to face to make a name in extreme sports like wrestling. I can’t wait to watch it. I would like to tell all girls that if you believe in your dreams and work hard to achieve it, success will be yours.”

Echoing the same sentiment, boxer Mary Kom said, “It’s heartening to see the hardships of women, especially in the field of sports being highlighted in the mainstream mass media. I am looking forward to watching this show as it appears similar to my own aspirations and struggles. I wish the entire team the very best.” 

‘Kesari Nandan’ cast

Chahat Tiwani essays the title role of Kesari

Manav Gohil plays the role of Kesari’s father, Hanumant Singh, a former wrestling champion

Aastha Chowdhary plays the role of Kesari’s mother, Madhavi

Nivedita Saraf

Reshma Shinde

Ankit Arora