God of big things

It's a story that you can never get enough of. Year after year, we flock to see the win of good over evil, as Rama’s charisma draws audiences across generations and sensibilities.

Rama and his lila never fail to draw audiences

It’s a story that you can never get enough of. Year after year, we flock to see the win of good over evil, as Rama’s charisma draws audiences across generations and sensibilities. Night after night, the dramatic folk re-enactment of the ten-day battle between Lord Rama and Ravana as described in Ramayana gets more absorbing and engrossing and Ramlila is a hit all the way. The act may have altered over time, but the essence and the spirit is intact, precisely why for years Ramlila Committees are always set to make the show a memorable one. The thunderous applause as Rama sets his foot on stage, the audience whistling and adding its bit as the story proceeds adds to the festive feel.

“My children and I don’t miss a single day of action. It’s a great way to get them in touch with tradition and reaffirms our faith in the good,’’ smiles Piyush Khanna. Following a family tradition of more than 35 years now, Swami Ram Prasad’s Party is here all the way from Vrindavan for the 10-day Ramlila programme at Indradhanush Auditorium. Directing the show is Swami Prasad’s son Prathmesh, who has been involved with the act since he was six, starting with playing various roles, including Rama. “Now I prefer to be backstage,’’ Prathmesh travels across the country every year to stage Ram Lila and their party is a four-time winner at the National Ram Lila Mela. The story, traditional music, costumes and live interaction with the audience agrees the director makes Ram Lila so popular, in spite of the new versions of it on television and in films. What sets their show apart, he says, is the fact that they continue to use traditional music and dance and don’t follow the Bollywood beats. “It’s all folk-based and all the 30 actors are from Braj, so it’s a very authentic feel to the show,’’ Prathmesh says they’ve upgraded the costumes and added more colour to the stage and the effect is stunning.

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For the last three years, the Market Welfare Association of Sector 31 has been showing Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana to large crowds, and it’s children, quips BN Kaushak, that they want to reach out to. He agrees the magic on screen may not be the same as that of a live performance, but feels it’s a good start to get the younger generation acquainted with our culture.

There are no jitters among the actors of the Shree Ram Lila Committee, as they get ready for the first day, first show of Ram Lila at the Parade Grounds. Since ‘53, their tryst with tradition continues uninterrupted. “Last year, we improved on the technical aspects and the response of the audience was superb,’’ Suresh Bakshi talks of the 90-foot stage, great sound quality of the pre-recorded dialogues, tight script, continuous scenes sans any curtains and of course, experienced actors. What makes the show an-all time hit, adds Bakshi is because people relate to it at every level, “the classical pattern of verse is unique and people appreciate things which are deep, meaningful and honest. ‘’ The show must go on!