What Would Have Happened If GoT Was Made By Ekta Kapoor?
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Finally, the curtains have fallen, and the mega saga that is Game of Thrones (GoT) has come to an end. As it happens with the last chapter of every book, the last episode of every sitcom, and the last scene of a movie, I become invested in, I began to feel a gnawing emptiness in my heart after watching the finale. It became clear to me that from here on Monday mornings will become that again, boring, can’t-wait-for-the-day-to-get-over kind of mornings.
But a quick cursory search on the Internet revealed that our very own queen of television, Ekta Kapoor, had plans to give the Indian audience a Hindi remake of the popular medieval fantasy drama. Now, Ekta has her own brand of television, so obviously I wanted to know what she had in mind for GoT. But since that isn’t possible, I decided to indulge in an imaginative exercise to see what kind of plot twists we could expect in the iconic series, had it been made in our country. So, get the GoT fan in you excited, because unlike the season 8, these musings will not disappoint you! Here you go:
1. You Would Never Complain Of The Season Being Too Short
The last season of the show was stretched a little too tightly to cover a lot of ground. Many viewers, including me, felt that the show felt very rushed because of this. This isn’t something you would complain of if it was made by Ekta Kapoor or for that matter any other Bollywood bigwigs. You see, their nuanced storytelling demands the sacrifice of the audience’s time. With great cinematic action, comes great responsibility!
2. Arya Wouldn’t Have Left To Discover New Worlds Because Ladkiya Akeli Baahar Nahi Jaati
The dames of Ekta’s television world might have many qualities, but the one quality that shines through them like a beacon is their sanskaari nature. And going by that code, no woman would be portrayed to be exploring new worlds alone, much less a princess. Arya would remain a much-feared assassin who gains redemption when she starts her own grihastiwith Gendry! After all, he is of royal blood, aurkyachahiye?
3. Jon Would Have Been Resurrected But With A New Identity, Pulling One Smooth Plastic Surgery!
You remember that iconic scene when Melisandre brought a very badly stabbed Jon Snow to life? Well, in Ekta’s teli-verse, it would have played out a little differently. He would have been resurrected (Ekta invented the resurrection trope for Indian television), but with a different face and physique, because of course, the contract for the actor playing Jon’s character would be up for renewal.
4. All The Naughty Scenes Would Have An Arijit Singh Song Playing In The Background
While GoT was popular for its risqué portrayal of human sexuality and the depraved nature of power, that narrative strategy wouldn’t fly in the face of our censor board’s stringent ethical code. So every time you would have any characters indulging in a bit of downtime, the visual given above is all you’re going to see. With a very sappy Arijit Singh song, as its background score. *Imagine Kya hua tera wadaplaying in the background when Jon Snow stabs Danny*
5. Tyrion’s Role Would be Slightly Different
The way Tyrion’s arc was designed in the original show, it made him one of the smartest and most knowledgeable men in the whole of Westeros. But if that character did make it to the Indian version, I am pretty sure it wouldn’t be as a wise Hand of The King. But definitely for comic relief. Who can forget the epic jodiof Vikraal and Gabraal?
6. All The Incest Scenes Would Be Talked About In Hush-Hush Tones Because It’s All About Keeping It In The Family
A lot of content in GOT, though historically accurate isn’t palatable for an Indian audience, going by our censor’s exaggerated ethical code. So the key plot of Cersei and Jaime Lannister would never be talked about openly, it would only be hinted at. And when the truth will finally be revealed they are not twins, in fact, he is a servant boy who was switched at birth by the dai ma.
7. Arya Would Need An Anjali-Style Makeover To Pataao Gendry
It’s not yet possible on Indian television for our wild tomboy, Arya, to land a dude like Gendry, without a proper makeover. It’s an unsaid rule of television, if you want to land the hot guy, you have to change yourself completely and become a hyperfeminine version of yourself. So, Arya would definitely grow out her hair and swap her sword, Needle for the belan, and then she and Gendry would get their H.E.A. (Happily Ever After).
8. Cersei’s Machinations Would Be Announced To The World By Her Background Score Just Like Komolika’s!
In Ekta’s storytelling, there’s little room for grey. All the characters are either completely bad or completely good, there’s nothing human about them. And each every one of those negative characters has a signature phrase that plays in the background whenever they intend to something evil. So Cersei’s plans would no longer be concealed from the audience, rather they would know that she’s up to something when she would start drinking menacingly with the background score going, “Cerseeeeeeeeeeee”!
Source: Tenor
Though it would certainly lose a lot of its flair, I am pretty sure, the Indian rendition of the show would still go on to earn a loyal fanbase even if it’s an ironic one.
What changes do you think would be made to the series if it was being made in India?
Banner Image Credits: hbo/ Inatagram
