We all do remember our childhood shows and those nostalgic comic books. You do recognise one of the shows named ‘Shaktiman’ it is an Indian Hindi language superhero television show that aired in DD national from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005. Producer Mukesh Khanna played the role of Shaktiman and his alter ego “Pandit Gangadhar Vidhayadhar Mayadhar Omkaranath Shastriji”, a photographer for the newspaper Aaj Ki Aawaz. Shaktiman was dedicated as a human who has attained superman powers through mediation and five elements of nature: Space, Earth, Air, Fire, Water. A character Geeta Vishwas was a reporter who loves Shaktimaan.
Whereas Superman is a superhero who appeared in an American comic book published by DC Comics, It was started in June 1938. It was adopted by various media including radio series, novels, movies, television and theatre. Superman was born on the fictional planet Krypton and was named Kal-El. As a baby, his parents sent him to Earth in a small spaceship moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. On Earth superman was found by a farmer who was adopted by farmers who named him Clark Kent.
Superman is among one of them it first appeared in 1938 and has been in circulation ever since. It though becomes difficult for other comic characters to not share a few similarities with superman.Shaktimaan is no exeption. However, it’s not an exact rip-off of superman. There are major differences in the origins, plots and villains. Hence it doesn’t make sense for the show producer to admit that it’s a copy.
However, there might be some similarities which might consider copy
- They both have an alter ego as a journalist and even have a journalist girlfriend.
- Superman becomes powerless when in the proximity of mineral kryptonite which is a piece of rock from his planet Krypton. In the same way, Shaktimaan becomes powerless when he comes near Papmani.
- Both of the superheroes relied on the Sun as the source of power.
