A contemporary Pushpak Viman by Aarya Babbar

Actor Aarya Babbar has written a script for a graphic novel on the Pushpak Viman, the mythological aircraft from the times of the Indian epic Ramayana.

The actor has been fascinated with graphic novels since his
childhood and wanted to write a script himself.

“From Frank Miller-kind of stuff, to Indiana Jones to James Bond graphic novels, I love them all. It’s so much fun to read and understand graphic novels. Ramayana and the Mahabharata have served as the inspiration for so many commercial scripts in India. The film Raajneeti is the latest example. The idea of
the novel Pushpak Viman is trying to merge elements from both Ramayana and Mahabharata,” says Aarya.

Karan Vir Arora of a graphic novel publishing company will be publishing the novel. Karan says, “This is basically a novel about the divine Pushpak Viman and how it used to fly. However, the story penned by Aarya is in contemporary times.”

The Pushpak Viman was believed to resemble the brightness of the Sun when airborne.

It could travel at the speed of thought, without affecting its surrounding environment and have infinite number of passengers on board. In Ramayana, Ravan had acquired the aircraft in a battle from his brother Kuber, the lord of wealth. He later used it to kidnap Sita.

After Ravan was defeated by Ram, Ram along with Sita returned to Ayodhya on the craft. The craft also finds a mention in the Mahabharata, when it reappears to pick Yudhisthir to take him to heaven.

Karan explains, “In Aarya’s version of the story, five youngsters come together for an archaeological expedition which leads them to the discovery of the Pushpak Viman. However, they are still unaware of the fact that a mythological demon is still alive seeking the divine craft for selfish reasons.”