Hare Krsna,
The details of the actual fight between Lord Varaha and Hiranyaksa resembles the fight depicted in blockbuster movies. Materialistic people waste tons of money catching up on the mundane, sense gratifying movies that do not yield any ultimate benefit. Material sounds and things entangle conditioned souls; spiritual sounds liberate entangled sounds.
I have been reflecting on the possibility that in future, some devotees would be empowered to render entire Srimad Bhagavatam into a film series – a collection of related films in succession that share the same theme. Something on the lines of The Godfather, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter series. Srimad Bhagavatam has so many topics and lessons related to the Supreme Lord that the whole humanity would be benefited even by watching them simply for entertainment. Epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata rendered into TV series have been great success in India. Why not Srimad Bhagavatam? The only challenge is that the film series must be commercially viable; the people who fund the movie series would be keen to get return on their investment.
“The real fighting is now. Krsna will give you all protection. So, chant Hare Krsna and fight. One movie expert has opined there are so many ideas in our movement. Try to get our ideas into movies.” (Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Letter to Tamala Krsna — Vrindaban 30 October, 1976: New York)
“We can use everything—television, radio, movies, or whatever there may be—to tell about Krishna and outside of devotional service all these modern paraphernalia are just so much rubbish.” (Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Bhagavan — Bombay 24 November, 1970)
The possibility of depicting Krsna lila into movies had been discussed with Srila Prabhupada. Here is the snippet of the conversation.
Morning Walk — June 10, 1975, Honolulu:
Ambarīṣa: Bali and I were discussing that the other day. Bali-mardana and I. Maybe when I come back here to live, maybe after Christmas, he and I, we’ll see if we can work out… He knows some people that are in the movie business.
Siddha-svarūpa: Which actors?
Prabhupāda: Actors, we shall play. They haven’t got to pay for us.
Ambarīṣa: He was thinking also maybe to make it an epic picture of Bhagavad-gītā.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Siddha-svarūpa: That would be most popular, I believe.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa-līlā also. That will be also popular. From Bhāgavatam we can have so many.
Siddha-svarūpa: Endless.
Ambarīṣa: They could be run on T.V. too.
Siddha-svarūpa: Have a series. (break) …not to continue or make any impression. And that will necessitate very good acting, not slapstick comedy. (break)
Prabhupāda: …not professional. (break) …men can be trained up—that is possible—to play. We require professional director. Money may be spent by the movie company. And we give our men an idea. (break)
Siddha-svarūpa: …always looking for new movies, new ideas, the companies.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Ambarīṣa: ‘Cause they have made many great religious pictures, big epics about Jesus and stuff like that. So maybe they would be open to the idea of doing the Bhagavad-gītā. That would be nice. (break)
Siddha-svarūpa: I mentioned to you something about making a movie of Bhagavad-gītā. You said it would be very difficult to find fifty thousand elephants. (laughs) There will be some… (break) …Kṛṣṇa-līlā will be easier. He can be fighting one demon or dancing with the gopīs. Bhagavad-gītā is… (break)
Prabhupāda: …do not understand the existence of soul, then why do they say, “My head, my hand”? Why not say, “I head.” What is their answer? Why do you say, “My head”?
Siddha-svarūpa: They have no answer. (break) …very much to know about this.
Prabhupāda: That is the folly.
Siddha-svarūpa: Their desire is to enjoy the world and have religion to help them.
Prabhupāda: It is not the question of religion. Unless one understands, then he does not understand the transmigration of the soul. (end)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 