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.

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

| Original Hindi | Literal English | Indonesian Dubbed | Back-translation | |----------------|----------------|-------------------|------------------| | “Mastani, tum meri swadharma ho.” | “Mastani, you are my sacred duty.” | “Mastani, kau kewajiban suciku.” | “Mastani, you are my sacred obligation.” | | “Bajirao ne Mastani ko apna ghar diya.” | “Bajirao gave Mastani his home.” | “Bajirao memberikan hati dan rumahnya untuk Mastani.” | “Bajirao gave his heart and home to Mastani.” |

Indonesian dubbing directors chose deep, resonant voices for Bajirao (actor Ranveer Singh’s energy was replaced with a more authoritative, slower cadence) to align with the Wali Songo tradition of calm, wise leaders. Mastani’s voice was given a refined priyayi (Javanese aristocratic) tone, elevating her status from “foreign concubine” in some Indian readings to “noble princess” in the Indonesian version.

[Your Name/Institution] Date: October 26, 2023

Note: This is a draft for illustrative purposes. If you need a shorter summary or a different focus (e.g., technical dubbing process, market analysis), please specify.

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?