The music of Ramayana

The resplendance of Ramayana is in its simplicity and celebrating this is Sriram, a dance drama, by Sriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, celebrating its 66th year after 2000 plays.

Ramayana is a known linear narrative but what makes this theatrical grandeur unique is the juxtaposition of significant scenes without losing its essence.

For example:
The heated argument between Kaikeyi and Dashrath, after the instigation of Manthara, was performed with such elegant theatrics.

Ravan was introduced in a song-drama without the ten heads (his ten heads being a metaphor for his intelligence is often gaudily displayed) and dressed like a kathakali dancer. How refreshing!

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What I thoroughly enjoyed was:

the debate during the swayamvar when Parshuram displays his rage over the broke arrow; Lakshman wages a verbal war while Ram pacifies him. Parshuram, convinced of Ram's divinity, leaves;

the golden deer and garuda, the eagle, have their own portion of thunderous feats which emphasizes their minute roles in the epic; and

the foreplay of fear between Ravan and Sita while abducting her. An ash-laden saint turns into Ravan in a couple of minutes and Sita displays her discontent with a debate.

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The negligable tehnical glitches are a hindrance but the play that runs for 2.5 hours and presents us an experience like Ramlila is worth the time and navigating the traffic and unexpected shower of rain.

Like the proverbial all good things must come to an end, we, the audience, reluctantly leave, after showering ourselves with an orchestra of folk songs, a palette of lights and electric performances especially by Lakshman and Manthara.