Year after year, we sit on the modest-sized lawns of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra to watch the epic story of Lord Ram unfold in the most splendid manner. In its 61th edition, the eponymous drama comes back with minor changes in the script and choreography.
The two-hour piece has been directed by Shobha Deepak Singh, Vice Chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. This year, the story starts with Kraunch Vadh, a never-seen-before episode in which Valmiki sees a pair of birds being separated by a hunter. “That Ram and Sita must have felt the same pangs of separation becomes the starting point of Ramayana for Valmiki,” says the protagonist Raj Kumar Sharma.
Chhau and Kalaripayattu have been introduced to the play this year. These martial dance forms compliment the depiction of Ram as a veer purush (brave man). The use of armaments exaggerates the already riveting storytelling.
It’s true that for every actor, good character execution is paramount, but playing Ram is a different story. For a god who is revered so greatly, things sometimes become intense. For instance, people forget that Sharma is just portraying a part. “There have been times when after a performance, audiences flock to touch my feet. Some even start taking my autograph,” he says. “At times we have to turn off the lights so we can vacate the auditorium.”
The episode of Sita’s agnipariksha (trial by fire) has been elaborated. It shows the suffering women are subjected to. A new episode of Shurpanakha and Ravana has been added too. It talks of how he would felt honoured to be killed by Lord Ram. “It shows the otherwise evil antagonist of Ramayana, Ravana, as reflective and knowledgeable,” says Sharma.
In another new scene, artistes depict Ram’s shakti puja where he is in search of the 108th missing lotus to be offered to Goddess Shakti and how he begins to remove his eyes (as he is known as kamal nayan).
The scene Sharma enjoys the most is Jataayu being slain by Ravana. “Rama gets angry only once in the entire epic, and that’s when he sees Jatayu dying. The scene is a departure from Ram’s otherwise calm persona. It preaches that injustice should not be tolerated even by the kindest person,” he says.
The play has travelled to countries—including Malaysia, Indonesia and Mauritius—and is now ready to be staged again in its homeland. Here’s raising the curtains to an old story for the modern viewer. September 21 to October 17, at 6.30 pm, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Copernicus Marg. Tickets `200-3,000 available at the venue.