By now, I’m sure everyone is well acquainted with Marvel Comics. Marvel is this much popular because of the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU), and the MCU is popular because of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. What if Marvel had an Indian version? I thought it would be super fun if we could reimagine the earth’s mightiest heroes with the Indian names & characters.
Agents of S.A.N.R.A.K.S.H.A.N. — Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
S.A.N.R.A.K.S.H.A.N. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism agency in a world of superheroes. The acronym stands for “States And National Regiment And Known Strategic Homeland Assessment Network”. The common peafowl is the symbol that represents India. India adopted the peacock as its national bird in 1963 and it is one of the national symbols of India.
The Grenadiers — The Avengers
The Grenadiers is the superhero team of extraordinary individuals with special abilities and the will to do good in the world. The team’s purpose is to protect the planet Earth and its people from both domestic and extraterrestrial threats. The group is recognized as a peacekeeping force by the National Security Council of India, the United Nations Security Council, and S.A.N.R.A.K.S.H.A.N.. The team functions with the peaceful interests of the whole world rather than a specific country or organization.
Ispati Manav/Steel Man — Iron Man
Tejas Surya is the son of wealthy industrialist and head of Surya Industries. A boy genius, at the age of 15 he receives master’s degrees in engineering and physics. After his parents are killed in a car accident, he inherits his father’s company. Once DRDO orders him to build secret weapons, but he is captured by enemy in the Thar Desert and injured by a booby trap. His injuries are dire and at that time he finds SuryaKavach(Armor of the Sun) – an impenetrable golden armour of “Karna”(one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata). The specialty of this armour is that it cannot be broken by any weapon. Later he takes revenge on his kidnappers and joins the superhero team.
Captain Chakra/Captain Circle — Captain America
Many Indian soldiers die from harsh weather at Siachen glacier, the world’s highest battlefield in 1984. To save the Indian army from more casualties, a team of expert doctors makes a serum that transforms a person into a nearly perfect human being. Captain Chakra is used as a test subject for the Super-Soldier project, receiving a special serum. The experiment is a success and transforms captain into a nearly perfect human being with peak strength, agility, stamina, and intelligence. Enemy eliminates all the doctors. Replicating the same experiment on other human beings is now impossible. During one battle, Captain Chakra tries to disable a drone plane created by an enemy, which was to be used to bomb India and ultimately crashing somewhere in the Himalayas, burying both a drone and himself under the ice. 20 years later his body was found and revived, without a scratch and looking not a day older. He also joins the superhero team.
Theeran/Thunder — Thor
As per Indian mythology, Vayu dev is a primary Hindu deity, the lord of the winds. Vayu and Indra are brothers. Vayu is not just a force of the wind or air element, but the KriyaShakti or power of action that governs all inanimate and animate forces. Vayu manifests as lightning or propulsive force. The first Avatar of Vayu is considered to be Hanuman. His exploits are elucidated in Ramayana (Treta Yuga). The second Avatar of Vayu is Bhima, one of the Pandavas appearing in the epic, Mahabharata (Dwapara Yuga). The Third and Kali Yuga Avatar is ascribed to Theeran. Known for his strength and flying power, the gada(mace) is the main weapon of Theeran. He also joins the superhero team.
Hara/Horton — Hulk
An Indian scientist Mr.Airavat has the idea to forge supersoldiers by introducing a serum made of modified DNA sequences extracted from the mammoths to strengthen the human cellular response, but he is denied to use human subjects. He subsequently conducts the experiments on himself. Exposed to a serum, Airavat morphs into the green giant powered by his rage. Though he is a soft-hearted scientist, his behavior is uncontrollable and he’s driven by anger just like an elephant. He transforms into the Hara (green rage machine) when he gets really angry.
Fauji Kali/Black Warrior — Black Widow
Fauji Kali was born in Chambal forests. Her parents are killed by the dacoits but the leader of the dacoits adopts her. She is brainwashed and trained in combat and espionage at the covert “Chambal” valley. She is even deployed with the false memories to help ensure her loyalty. But Fauji Kali eventually discovers this, including the fact of her parents. Later she takes revenge on the dacoits and joins the superhero team. She is a spy, martial artist, and sniper.
Ekalavya/EagleEye — Hawkeye
At a young age he lost both of his parents in a car accident. In that accident, he also lost his right thumb. After six years in an orphanage, he runs away to join the Jumbo Circus. Though he doesn’t have his right thumb, he adapts archery skills to become a circus attraction. He becomes popular and later he bags a gold medal in archery for India. Somehow his glory is forgotten over the time. Once during hunting in the jungle, Fauji Kali stops him from killing the animals and invites him to join the superhero team.
Kal Singham/Black Lion — Black Panther
The Siddis are an ethnic group inhabiting India and they are descended from the Bantu peoples of the East African region. The Gujarati Siddis live around Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife sanctuary. The Kal Singham is the ceremonial title given to the chief of the one of the Siddis tribe. Kal Singham is a hereditary title, but one must still earn it. Kal Singham gets his superhuman powers from the special plant species, a Gir Forest plant that grants enhanced abilities and links each Kal Singham spiritually to the Lion god Singham.
Anu-Man/Atom-Man — Ant-Man
Dr.Vaman Param is an archaeologist and security operation biochemist. During May 1974, Dr.Param travels to Rajasthan to search Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization). He doesn’t know about Pokharan nuclear bomb test experiment. Unaware of the danger, he is very near to the test site. When the nuclear bomb is detonated on the Pokhran Test Range, the radioactive atoms are carried by the wind. Dr.Param was saved from the blast but his body is affected from those particles. He can control the atoms of his body. Initially he has the power to shrink himself to the size of an ant and return to normal. He also discovers a chemical substance, which he calls Param Particles, which can give him the ability to change the size at will. Param Particles can increase and decrease the size of atoms. Those particles only change the distance between atoms, they don’t actually change the number of atoms.
Agents of the Akashganga/Mercenaries of the Milkyway — Guardians of the Galaxy
Agents of the Akashganga/Mercenaries of the Milkyway are a band of intergalactic outlaws, who teamed together to protect the galaxy from planetary threats. The leader of the team is Trooper Tiranga (later known as Brahmander), an astronaut from 20th century Earth who spends many years travelling to Alpha Centauri in the galaxy. The other members are Dhumketu the Destroyer, Tara, Missile Monkey and Podha.
Doctor Samay/Doctor Sand— Doctor Strange
Dr. Raj Samay, M.D., is an egotistical doctor who only cares about wealth from his career. The bones in his hands are shattered in a car crash, leading to extensive nerve damage. His hands tremble uncontrollably rendering him unable to perform surgery. Too vain to accept a teaching job, Dr.Samay desperately searches for a way to restore the motor function in his hands. The Indrajit (who is actually the Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme) in the Himalayas cures Dr.Samay after sensing his good side. Doctor Samay is a practicing magician who draws his powers from the mystical entities.
Captain Maya/Captain Magic — Captain Marvel
Maya Dave, also known as Captain Maya, is a former Indian Air Force pilot who, upon being exposed to the energy of the Charayami via the destruction of the Light-Speed Engine, obtained cosmic powers. She possesses superhuman strength, endurance, stamina, physical durability, a limited precognitive “seventh sense and a perfectly human physiology that rendered her resistant to most toxins and poisons.
Sarp-Maan/Snake-Man(Snakey) — Spider-Man(Spidey)
An orphaned college student Pratik Patkar is bitten by a genetically-engineered ‘super snake’ during the industrial field visit. As a result, he gains superhuman abilities, including increased strength, speed, snakey-sense and ability to climb the walls by unique kind of locomotion called concertina. He is recruited by Ispati Manav to join the superhero team.
