Hinduism: Details about 'Shaktiman'
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Shaktiman, or Shaktimaan, is also an Indian television superhero created by Mukesh Khanna and shown on Doordarshan, India's national television network, beginning September 13, 1997. Khanna plays the role of Shaktiman and his alter-ego Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnathnath Shastri, a photographer for the Daily Tehelka newspaper. Like Superman, Shaktiman is superhumanly strong, has the ability to fly, and is invulnerable to injury. He received his powers from seven gurus who trained and blessed him with "yogic shakti". He is a defender of truth and justice as well as a role model for his television audience, even going so far as to lecture viewers on hygiene, patriotism, education. When the serial was first aired on Doordarshan, there was a lot of controversy created as children set themselves on fire or jumped off buildings, hoping that Shaktiman would save them (as in the serial) and this caused an uproar in India. In an effort to promote responsible behavior among children and to spread useful messages among them, Khanna spent a substantial part of his allocated airtime in explaining to children that the stunts shown on television are not real and should not be emulated. Shaktiman was one of the most popular and longest running television series for children on Doordarshan. Now dubbed in English it is being repeated on Pogo. Later a series of comic books appeared featuring Shaktiman and published in many Indian languages as well as English After Shakthimaan was created he set out to destroy his arch-enemy Kilvish. But, as the guru Mahaguru explains, Kilvish can only be defeated after evil is destroyed. Shaktiman's adventures show him pursuing justice and saving his friends while Kilvish and his minions plot to defeat him. In the wake of the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, Khanna toured the affected areas in character as Shaktiman, boosting morale and distributing relief supplies.
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