Swaraj TV show India

In the spirit of national pride, Doordarshan launched the historic show “Swaraj – Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha” on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day last year. This mega-budget television series, which started airing on August 14, 2022, sheds light on various aspects of Indian history, showcasing the lives and sacrifices of lesser-known heroes of the freedom struggle. The show is narrated by renowned actor Manoj Joshi.

Supported by prominent figures such as Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Swaraj” aims to captivate audiences with its grandeur. According to reports, the estimated budget for the show exceeds Rs 50 crore ($7 million). Contiloe Pictures, a Mumbai-based production house founded by Abhimanyu Singh, is responsible for the production of “Swaraj.” The show’s pre-production work began in 2020, and Doordarshan reportedly paid Contiloe Pictures Rs 47 lakh ($66,000) per episode, totaling around Rs 41.59 crore ($5.8 million) for the 75-episode series.

Additionally, Prasar Bharati, the public broadcasting agency, allocated over Rs 9 crore ($1.3 million) for promotional activities. This includes expenses such as car sunshade printing, iron hoardings, Twitter trends, advertising agency fees, and overhead publicity handled by the Central Bureau of Communication. With employee salaries and crew expenses taken into account, the total budget of “Swaraj” could range from Rs 50 crore to Rs 70 crore ($7 million to $9.8 million).

Foreign actors also played a significant role in the series, with British actor Sammy Jonas Heaney sharing his experience. Heaney praised the elaborate sets, comparing them to those of high-budget productions like “Game of Thrones.” He revealed that foreign actors were paid approximately Rs 16,000 ($225) per episode, while Indian actors received lower compensation. However, finding foreigners who could speak Hindi during the pandemic posed a considerable challenge.

Despite the initial buzz, “Swaraj” faced a decline in Average Minute Audience (AMA), leading to the loss of advertisers and a reduction in advertising rates. Initially priced at Rs 60,000 ($840) for a 10-second ad slot, the rates dropped to Rs 16,000 ($225) and eventually to Rs 8,000 ($112) per 10 seconds due to decreasing viewership.

Airing on DD National and available in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, and English, “Swaraj” aims to bring to life the stories of over 550 freedom fighters. Narrated by Manoj Joshi, each episode delves into the remarkable tales of India’s unsung heroes, offering a unique perspective on the country’s fight for independence.

Re reported the article from the story originally published in India today