ReneeRoby7626 at 17:42, 4 April 2026

2026-04-04T17:42:56Z

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{{Short description|Indian epic television series}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| alt_name = Krishna
| image =
| caption =
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* [[Bhagavata Purana]]
* [[Harivamsa]]
* [[Garga Samhita (Vaishnavite text)|Garga Samhita]]
* [[Vishnu Purana]]
* [[Padma Purana]]
* [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]]
* [[Bhagvad Gita]]
* [[Mahabharata]]
}}
| writer = Ramanand Sagar
| screenplay = Ramanand Sagar
| director = {{ubl|Ramanand Sagar|Anand Sagar|Moti Sagar}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
*Ramanand Sagar
*[[Prem_Sagar_(cinematographer)|Prem Sagar]]
*Subhash Sagar}}
| music = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| editor = {{ubl|Girish Dawda|Moreshwar R. Mishra|Sahdev|Um Bahadur Bisht|Anil Pradhan|P. Vedachallam|Vinay Ashtaputre}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]
*[[Pinky Parikh]]
*Reshma Modi}}
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 25–55 minutes
| creator = [[Ramanand Sagar]]
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| network = {{ubl|[[DD Metro]] (1993–1996)|[[DD National]] (1997)|[[Zee TV]] (1999)}}
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes =
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1993|07|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|1999}}
| company = [[Sagar Arts]]
}}
'''''Shri Krishna''','' also known as '''''Krishna''''' is a 1993–1999 Indian [[Hindi]]-language television series, created, written and directed by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. It is an adaptation of the stories of the life of [[Krishna]], based on the [[Bhagavata Purana|Srimad Bhagavatam]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Harivamsa]], [[Vishnu Purana]], [[Padma Purana]], [[Garga Samhita (Vaishnavite text)|Garga Samhita]], [[Bhagavad Gita]] and [[Mahabharata]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2020-04-27 |title=After 'Ramayan' and 'Mahabharat', now 'Shri Krishna' is returning to Doordarshan |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/after-ramayan-and-mahabharat-now-shri-krishna-is-returning-to-doordarshan/articleshow/75400171.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Doordarshan has plans to bring back 'Shri Krishna' after 20 years {{!}} Business Insider India |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/doordarshan-has-plans-to-bring-back-shri-krishna-after-20-years/articleshow/75387419.cms |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Business Insider |language=en}}</ref> The series has a total of 221 episodes.

''Shri Krishna'' was first broadcast on [[DD Metro]]<ref name=":0" /> in 1993 and it continued on through 1996;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grewal |first=Kairvy |date=2020-04-23 |title=After Ramayan and Mahabharat, now Shri Krishna to return on DD |url=https://theprint.in/india/after-ramayan-and-mahabharat-now-shri-krishna-to-return-on-dd/407561/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> it later continued on [[DD National]] (which was called DD1 at the time) in 1997,<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=Oct 28, 2009 |title=DD on DVD |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/dd-on-dvd/story-wB6SW3FpxGW54nmeFV7QPJ.html |access-date=Sep 8, 2024 |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |pages=11}}</ref> but as DD refused to stream Gita Sermon, Vajranabha, and Banasura's ''Ego-Breaking'', it was completely re-telecasted on [[Zee TV]] in 1999, It also streamed on [[Sony Entertainment Television]] in 2001,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Production of Shri Krishna |url=https://production.sagarworld.com/shri-krishna |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=Sagar World |language=en}}</ref> It was later re-telecasted on [[DD National]] in the lockdown after ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' and ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' ended. It surpassed both the serials in terms of TRP, and was re-telecast on public demand during the lockdown in 2020 due to COVID-19 after the completion of ''[[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|Ramayan]]'', Shri Krishna aired on DD from 03 May to 16 December 2020,<ref name=":2" /> this serial was made in Hindi but has also been dubbed in languages like Telugu, Tamil etc. This serial enjoyed number 1 in terms of TRP till the 21st week of airing.<ref name=":1" />

According to ''[[The Hindustan Times]]'', "''Shri Krishna'' was one of the biggest grossers for Doordarshan during the seven years it was on air.”<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/shri-krishna-the-show-that-turned-swapnil-joshi-into-god/story-pRZnHUDgao6rAmuqEwsInL.html|title=Shri Krishna: The show that turned Swapnil Joshi into God|work=Hindustan Times |date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

== Premise ==
This series covers various aspects of Krishna's life, including his birth, childhood antics, his role in the kingdom of Mathura, his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, and his crucial role in the Kurukshetra War, a central event in the Mahabharata. It also delves into his relationships with characters like Radha, his childhood friend, and his interactions with other gods, demons, and mortals.

In the first episode Ramanand Sagar talks about the beginning of the Kali Yuga period, and about king [[Parikshit]] being the last king who followed principles of Dharma and his encounter with [[Kali (asura)|Kali]]. It also shows a glimpse of the Mahabharata War.

Then the series starts focusing on Shri Krishna's life like his childhood antics, and dives into his relationship with Radha, and Balrama's marriage with Revati, [[Nara-Narayana]], [[Syamantaka|Syamantaka incident]], Satybhama, Jambavati's Marriage to Krishna, Rukmi's antics and Krishna's Marriage to Rukmini, Yudhishthira being declared as the crown price of Indraprastha, [[Lakshagriha]] incident, Meeting of Krishna-Sudama, [[Pradyumna]]'s lifestory, [[Paundraka Vasudeva]]'s torture on Veermani and Tara (Tarini), Draupadi's Disrobing, The [[Mahabharata]] war, Vajranabha's life, [[Aniruddha]]-[[Usha (princess)|Usha]] marriage, [[Banasura]]-ego breaking.

==Cast==

=== Main ===
* [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]] as [[Krishna]] and [[Vishnu]] (1993-1996)
**[[Swapnil Joshi]] as adolescent Krishna (1993)
**[[Ashok Kumar (Tamil actor)|Ashok Kumar Balkrishnan]] as Child Krishna (1993)
**Palak as Child Krishna (1993)
* [[Deepak Deulkar]] as [[Balarama|Balrama]] and [[Sheshanaga]] (1996)
** Sanjeev Sharma as teenage Balrama (1993-1994)
* [[Pinky Parikh]] as [[Rukmini]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Yamuna]] and [[Durga]] (1996)
* Reshma Modi as [[Radha]] (1993)
** [[Shweta Rastogi]] as Teenage Radha and [[Lakshmi]] (1993)
*Sandeep Mohan as [[Arjuna]] and [[Nara-Narayana|Nara]]
*Phalguni Parikh as [[Draupadi]]
*Govind Khatri as [[Karna]]
*Kumar Hegde as [[Duryodhana]]
*[[Raman Khatri]] as [[Yudhishthira|Dharmarajā]]
* Mahendra Ghule as [[Bhima]] and [[Hanuman]]
*[[Mukul Nag]] as [[Ashwatthama]] and [[Sudama]]
* Premchand Sharma as [[Pandu]] and [[Nakula]]
* Ashish Kadam as [[Sahadeva]]
* Dinesh Anand and [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Dushasan|Dushasana]]

=== Recurring ===
* Mona Parekh as [[Jambavati]]
* Shashi Sharma as [[Satyabhama]]
** Shashi also portrayed other characters as well
* Deepak Dave and Sagar Saini as [[Narada]]
* Vijay Kavish as [[Ugrasena]] and [[Shiva]] (1993)
** [[Amit Pachori]] as [[Shiva]] (1996)
* Lata Haya as [[Kunti]]
* Sunil Nagar as [[Bhishma]]
* Jayprakash Sharma as [[Shakuni]]
* Kanu Patel as [[Drona]] and [[Surya|Suryadeva]]
* Tarakesh Chauhan as [[Dhritarashtra]]
* Jyotin Dave as [[Indra]]
* Anuj Sharma as [[Abhimanyu]]
* N. Jitendra as [[Kripa]]
* Vijay Sharma as [[Vidura]]
* Aslam Khan as Various Roles
* Suneel Mattoo as [[Kritavarma]]
* Neela Patel as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]

=== Episodic appearance ===

* Girish Pardeshi as [[Shiva]] and [[Surya|Suryadev]] (During the [[Samudra Manthana]])
* Manish Sharma as [[Pradyumna]]
* Anupama Pardeshi as [[Mohini]]
* Navneet Chaddha as [[Aniruddha]]
* [[Sonia Kapoor]] as [[Subhadra]]
* Basheer Khan as [[Bhasmasura]], [[Dwivida]], Mayasura (Shambara's son) and Maya Danava
* Sanjeev Siddharth as [[Narakasura|Bhaumasura]]
* Arvind Singh Rausariya as [[Kalayavana|Kālayavana]], Sage Gargyata (also known as Gārgyat Muni, father of Kaal Yavana and Rājguru of Trigart kingdom), Shambara's Rājguru and Vajranābha
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] and Unknown as [[Banasura]]
* Pradeep Nishit as [[Drupad|Drupada]], [[Parashurama|Parshurama]] and [[Ved Vyas|Vyasa]] (1995–1999)
* Gautam Chaturvedi as [[Paundraka Vasudeva]]
* Arun Mathur as [[Sambara|Shambara]]
* Niharika Bhatt as [[Shambara]]'s wife, Vajranābha's Grandmother
* Jharna Dave as [[Rati|Māyāvati]], [[Hidimbi]] and [[Durga]]
* Radhakrishna Dutta as [[Uttanka]], [[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]] and [[Jarasandha]]
* Neel Kamal as Kumbhketu (Shambarasura's Son)
* [[Damini Kanwal Shetty]] (Seema Kanwal) as [[Yashoda]]
* [[Sulakshana Khatri]] as [[Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]
* [[Shahnawaz Pradhan]] as [[Nanda Baba]], [[Shurasena]], Chanura and [[Maha Bali]]
* Vilas Raj as [[Kamsa]]
* Jyotin Dave as [[Shalya|King Shalya]] and [[Garga (sage)|Sage Garga]]
* Bhakti Narula as Tarini
* Raj Premi as [[Shishupala]], [[Hiranyakashipu|Hiranyakashyap]] and [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya]]
* Paulomi Mukherjee as [[Devaki]] (1993)
* Sunil Pandey as [[Vasudeva]] (1993)
* Deepali Thosar as [[Rati]] (1996)
* Prairna Agrawal as Vasundhara
* [[Papiya Sengupta]] as [[Lalita Sakhi|Lalita]]
* Shyam Sunder Kalani as Chanura (Episode - 3)
* Swati Anand as second wife of Maharaja [[Brihadratha]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]] and [[Jarasandh|Jarasandha]]'s mother, [[Revati]], [[Shikhandi|Shikhandini]], [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], and [[Chitralekha (Hinduism)|Chitralekha]] (1994-1999)
* Sunil Chauhan as [[Uddhava]] (1993)
* Pramod Kapoor as [[Kali (demon)|Kali]], [[Akrura]] and [[Jayadratha]]
* Girish Pardeshi as [[Kamadeva|Kama]]

==Production==
Shri Krishna was produced by Ramanand Sagar, Subhash Sagar, and [[Prem_Sagar_(cinematographer)|Prem Sagar]] under the banner "Sagar Enterprises" and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar, and Moti Sagar. The role of young Krishna was played by [[Swapnil Joshi]] and adult Krishna was played by [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]. Govind Khatri was initially roped in to play the role of [[Dushasan]], however later ended with the role of [[Karna]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2020 |title=श्रीकृष्णा में गोविंद खत्री को कर्ण नहीं दुशासन का रोल हुआ था ऑफर, भाई ने निभाया था युधिष्ठिर का किरदार |trans-title=Govind Khatri was offered the role of Dushasan not Karna in Sri Krishna, brother played the role of Yudhishthira |url=https://www.jansatta.com/entertainment/television/ramanand-sagar-shri-krishna-karna-played-govind-khatri-brother-raman-khatri-yudhisthira/1446882/ |access-date=14 March 2022 |website=[[Jansatta]] |language=hi}}</ref>

Filming took place in [[Gujarat]], in particular in [[Umargam|Umbergaon]] and [[Vadodara]], where "huge sets" had been installed.<ref name=":3" />

Ramanand Sagar's television serial "Shri Krishna" made history in advertisement revenue for DD by earning the highest ever advertisement revenue by a single serial for DD by crossing the Rs. 70 Crore mark It was the no.1 TRP (Television Rating Points) while on the metro channel, It earned a record of Rs.14.31 Crores as advertisement revenue for DD Metro in the first year run on the network<ref name=":2" />

”The national broadcaster had a limit on the number of episodes it could air in the ’80s, but the ’90s brought about a change in these rules. A producer could now make a show for a longer duration.”, commented Kavita Awasthi in ''[[Hindustan Times|The Hindustan Times]]''.<ref name=":3" />

=== Direction ===
Shri Krishna was produced by Ramanand Sagar and [[Prem_Sagar_(cinematographer)|Prem Sagar]] under the banner of “Sagar Enterprises” and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The series was shot at Vrindavan studio, Umargaon studio and then later at the Sagar Film City, Vadodara. It was a massive family effort especially the entire Mahabharata war sequences were shot by multiple camera using multiple creative direction from Sagar Family members.<ref name=":2" />

"The visual depiction of the Bhagwat Geeta by late Dr. Ramanand Sagar is a treat to watch for film-makers, on how an abstract and philosophical subject like the Geeta can be re-told in for a mass media communication."- quote from the directors <ref name=":2" />

The role of young Krishna was played by Swapnil Joshi and adult Krishna was played by [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]. Both the actors became hugely popular after the telecast. Swapnil Joshi is still an actor in the Marathi film industry, and Banerjee quit acting and now teaches meditation in Rishikesh.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=तोमर |first1=संगीता |date=6 September 2023 |title=ऋषिकेश में गंगा किनारे योग सिखाते हैं रामानंद सागर के कृष्णा सर्वदमन डी बनर्जी, चौंका देगा हाल |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/tv-photogalleries/ramanand-sagar-serial-krishna-actor-sarvadaman-d-banerjee-now-teaches-yoga-and-meditation-in-rishikesh/photoshow/msid-103443190,picid-103443206.cms |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last1=Chouhan |first1=Neha |date=30 March 2023 |title='श्री कृष्ण' बन प्यारी-सी स्माइल से लूट लिया था दिल, अब बदल गया है पूरी तरह लुक, ऋषिकेश की वादियों में तलाश रहे सुकून |url=https://hindi.news18.com/photogallery/entertainment/tv-famous-charming-smile-artist-sarvadaman-d-banerjee-aka-krishna-look-changed-with-small-work-focusing-on-meditation-center-at-rishikesh-5689375.html |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite news |date=25 April 2020 |title=कहां हैं सीरियल 'श्री कृष्णा' में 'भगवान कृष्ण' का किरदार निभाने वाले ये कलाकार? जानें पूरी जानकारी |url=https://www.abplive.com/entertainment/s-d-banerjee-actor-who-play-lord-krishna-in-shri-krishna-know-complete-information-1361738 |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=ABP Live |language=hi}}</ref> He supports the NGO "Pankh", which provides free education to slum children and livelihood skills to underprivileged women of Uttarakhand.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/>

The salary for one episode was ₹3500, and every month, this salary increased by ₹1000 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-23 |title=Exclusive: रामानंद सागर के 'श्री कृष्णा' के शकुनी को भूले तो नहीं? उठा इनकी गुमनामी की ज़िन्दगी से पर्दा! |url=https://www.hindirush.com/tv/exclusive-interview-ramanand-sagar-sri-krishna-serial-shakuni-mama-aka-jai-prakash-sharma-169992/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Hindi Rush |language=hi}}</ref>

== Home media ==
In 2014, [[Reliance Entertainment|Reliance Home Video & Games]] and [[Moser Baer]] released it on DVDs.<ref name=":4" />

== Reception ==
The series was a popular success to the point that, according to Kavita Awaasthi in ''[[The Hindustan Times]]'', "Swapnil had a huge fan following because of the show. People thought he was Krishna."<ref name=":3" />

== See also ==
* [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|''Ramayan'' (1987 TV series)]]
* [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'' (1988 TV series)]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt0268085|title=Shri Krishna}}

{{Sagar Arts}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Indian drama television series]]
[[Category:Krishna in popular culture]]
[[Category:DD Metro original programming]]
[[Category:1993 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:1999 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:2001 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:Television series based on the Mahabharata]]

Shri Krishna (1993 TV series) - Revision history

ReneeRoby7626 at 17:42, 4 April 2026