इंगमार बर्गमनचे 'महाप्रस्थानिक पर्व'...Pandavas' Danse Macabre

is approach was poetic. It wasn’t prose; it was a poetic approach. The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, The Magician were really poetic films in the same sense as that, when years went by, you see in a film like Cries and Whispers — there is really very little dialogue in it. You are hypnotically riveted by the camera moving around this red house. It’s watching poetry in motion. - See more at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allen-pays-tribute-ingmar-95679#sthash.PY8vqjx2.dpuf

his approach was poetic. It wasn’t prose; it was a poetic approach. The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, The Magician were really poetic films in the same sense as that, when years went by, you see in a film like Cries and Whispers — there is really very little dialogue in it. You are hypnotically riveted by the camera moving around this red house. It’s watching poetry in motion. - See more at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allen-pays-tribute-ingmar-95679#sthash.PY8vqjx2.dpuf

Rajaji (Chakravarti Rajagopalachari) writes:

"...To Hastinapura came the sad tidings of the death of Vasudeva and the destruction of the Yadavas. When the Pandavas received the news, they lost all remaining attachment to life on earth. They crowned Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu, as emperor and the five brothers left the city with Draupadi. They went out on a pilgrimage, visiting holy places and finally reached the Himalayas. A dog joined them somewhere and kept them company all along. And the seven of them climbed the mountain on their last pilgrimage. As they toiled up the mountain path one by one fell exhausted and died. The youngest succumbed first. Draupadi, Sahadeva and Nakula were released from the burden of the flesh one after another. Then followed Arjuna and then great Bhima too. Yudhishthira saw his dear ones fall and die. Yet, serenely he went on not giving way to grief, for the light of Truth burned bright before him. Yudhishthira knew what was shadow and what was substance..."

(Mahabharata, Mahaprasthanika Parva, 1951)

They were six and a dog. (Dog was not really a dog but Dharma personified.)

an illustration from the Barddhaman edition of Mahabharata in Bangla, 19th century, author: Maharaja Mahatab Chand Bahadur (1820 - 1879)

courtesy: Wikipedia

In the Ingmar Bergman's 'The Seventh Seal' 1957, one of the greatest films ever made, towards the end, the knight and his followers are led away over the hills in a solemn dance of death.

They too are six in number, led by Death.

Cinematographer: Gunnar Fischer

courtesy: Wikipedia and the current copyright holders of the film