‘Sampurna Ramayana- in 3 hours’: Grandeur outshines native nuances

Watching Ramlila during the navratras evokes a strong nostalgia in the grown ups while it is a matter of great excitement for children. Year after year some Ramlilas across the country carry their old fervor while some new Ramlilas are launched making the drama of the age-old story more intense and effective with the help of technology.

‘Sampurna Ramayana—in 3 hours’ presented by Aryan Heritage Foundation in Pitampura, Delhi was one such experiment where elements of Broadway musical were fused with the traditional narration of Ramayana.

This Broadway Ramlila is ultimate and mesmerising- a blend of perfect modern technology and universal drama full of music, sound, choreography, lighting, stage design and costumes at a breath-taking pace. Directed by veteran Shashidharan Nair and choreographed by Papiha Desai this 16 soul-touching Original Sound Tracks Ramlila is a magical wonder in world-class theatre and entertainment with a universal divine drama. With a grand stage and magnificent costumes, the Sampurna Ramayana was a fete for the eyes.

Scenes were spanned over a big stage of 180 feet, and further divided into 6 sub stages only to ensure an uninterrupted movie-like experience.

The show was performed by over 120 professional actors and dancers.Chandra Kamal and Bharat Kamal composed the music and the title song of the show was sung by Udit Narayan while Kailash Kher rendered his voice to Ravan’s introduction. Mukesh Khanna who earned popularity among kids as the voice of Hanuman a few years back rendered his voice in this Ramlila as the narrator of the story.

With immaculate lighting and synchronisation of dance, music, drama and narration, Sampurna Ramayana was an experience in itself.

But well, coming out after witnessing such a mega show, one still wonders back to that ground at the back of our house where watching Ramlila was more of a family ritual. That affinity with Ramlila somehow gets lost in the grandeur of the show.