Bajirao Mastani Dubbing Indonesia -

Transcultural Adaptation and Linguistic Localization: A Case Study of the Indonesian Dubbing of Bajirao Mastani

This study employs a comparative descriptive analysis. The original Hindi dialogue track was compared against the official Indonesian dubbed version (released by Disney India’s distribution partners). Key scenes were selected for analysis: (1) the "Aayat" song sequence (Sufi-Muslim poetic context), (2) Bajirao’s war council speeches (Maratha political terminology), and (3) dialogues between Mastani and Kashi Bai (gender and household hierarchy). Additionally, online reviews and forum discussions (e.g., Kaskus, Twitter Indonesia) were analyzed to gauge audience reception. Bajirao Mastani Dubbing Indonesia

The Indonesian dubbing of Bajirao Mastani is a masterclass in transcultural negotiation. It reveals how AVT can reshape a film’s cultural identity without altering its visual narrative. For future Indian productions seeking entry into Southeast Asian markets, this case suggests that linguistic adaptation is not merely about translation—it is about recalibrating cultural registers to fit local norms of power, piety, and passion. Further research should compare this dubbing to the Thai or Malay versions to understand regional variations. Additionally, online reviews and forum discussions (e

[Your Name/Institution] Date: October 26, 2023 For future Indian productions seeking entry into Southeast

Bajirao Mastani (2015) tells the story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I and his relationship with the warrior-princess Mastani. Upon its release, the film was dubbed into several languages for international markets, including Turkish, Arabic, and Indonesian. Indonesia represents a unique market: a nation with a rich history of Hindu-Buddhist classical epics (e.g., the Ramayana and Mahabharata adaptations) but a contemporary majority-Muslim population. This paper asks: How did the Indonesian dubbing of Bajirao Mastani navigate the tension between historical Hindu-Maratha culture and contemporary Indonesian linguistic and religious norms?

The 2015 Indian epic historical romance Bajirao Mastani , directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, achieved significant transnational success, particularly in Indonesia. This paper examines the Indonesian dubbing process of the film as a case study in audiovisual translation (AVT) and cultural localization. It analyzes the challenges of translating 18th-century Maratha political and poetic discourse into modern Bahasa Indonesia, the dubbing techniques used to preserve the film’s operatic emotional intensity, and the reception among Indonesian audiences. The findings suggest that the dubbing process involved strategic modifications—toning down explicit Hindu iconography while amplifying universal themes of honor, war, and forbidden love—to resonate with Indonesia’s Muslim-majority yet culturally pluralistic society.