If the theatrical effect of any presentation refers to stage action, as opposed to the realistic presentation, it immediately reveals its origins, and how the researcher tackles the creative process and strives for objectivity. One gets the same feeling while witnessing Aham Sita, or I am Sita, from the epic Ramayana, which is narrated from Sita’s point of view. Particularly, in our culture, Sita is revered as the perfect wife, who is faithful to Rama, her husband. However, in this depiction of Ramayana, the story is narrated from the classics, but with a difference.
At this repertory production by choreographer Gowri Ramnarayan, she used modern techniques , while at the same time being rooted to culture and tradition, and also by blending dance, music and words. The five crucial moments in the life of the protagonist were shown. As Sita’s tale was being narrated, the audience could hear the voices of other women from Ramayana such as Urmila , Ahalya, Surpanaka, and Mandhodari by telling their stories as well, there by clubbing it into Sita’s saga.
In earlier versions of Ramayana, the epic was narrated through the verses of Valmiki, Kambar, Tulasidas, and other forms of prose and poetry. The main character, Sita was viewed through the poets’ or sages’ perspective and their character depiction was completely different, although the story revolved around the same premise. This excellent production by Just Us Repertory, the production company that specialises in ensembles, blending music dance and dialogue, the three artistic expressions , came together to unravel the multi layered character of the princess of Mithila, revealing the mind of Sita effortlessly. Gowri Ram Narayan, essayed all the roles with her histrionic skills and by reciting the dialogue.
Bharathanatyam artiste, Vidhya Subramanian in the role of Sita, visualised the character as a woman with grit, capable of holding her own identity during adversity, with her excellent bhava, revealing the sensual elements, necessary for the idiom.
Nisha Rajagopalan’s musical piece through her clear understanding of the story and the events, presented the songs beautifully. With the needed impetus, particularly her pronunciation in ‘Kahan ke Pathag’, a traditional Hindustani song of Tulasi Das’ Avadhi, in Raga Mishra Jinjoti, taken out of the repertoire of carnatic maestro, MS SubuLakshmi, The song, which described the scenario of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana passing through a tribal village, in the deep forest and the conversation of Sita, with the tribal woman, with a versatile imagination and quality of the vocalist, was commendable,
This production, made us visualise the struggle of women, over the ages. Ultimately when the performers took a critical look at the popular notion on women in Ramayana, we realised that the choreographer, Gowri Ram Narayan, certainly bridged the gap between the theatre and live art, specialising in traditional and contemporary performances.
The show was presented at Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, under Kartik Fine Arts.