Ramlila’s rising budget in Delhi

Every year, the organisers of Ramlila in the city put on a spectacular show which raises the audience’s expectations for next year’s celebrations, but this raises the event’s expenditure too
From flames erupting on the stage when Raavan crosses the Lakshman rekha, to having celebrities attend the event, it’s known that Ramlila organisers try to outdo their efforts of the preceding year with the show of the present year.We spoke to organisers in the city about the expenditure and efforts required to put on an exciting show.
Karodon-waali Ramlila
The presence of celebs and special effects are two factors that are bound to increase the cost, says Arjun Kumar, secretary, Lav Kush Ramlila Committee. “We have various celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Govinda, Raveena Tandon etc attending our Ramlila on various days. Even though they don’t charge any money for attending the function, we have to make arrangements for their flight, accommodation and conveyance, so that they have a hassle-free journey. We are also using a lot of innovations in making the burning of the effigy a more realistic experience for those who come to watch the Ramlila on October 3, which has also used up a considerable amount of money. Putlon ke jalne par unke rone ki aawazein bhi aayengi, jiske liye humne unmein tape recorder fit karwaya hai. Jab woh putle jalna shuru honge, toh unki aankhon se doodh ke aansoon niklenge. The eyes of the effigies will rotate in such a way that they will be able to depict what a dying man goes through in his last moments.”

Akshay Kumar had attended Lav Kush Ramlila Committee’s Ramlila event last year
The 80-90 lakh Ramlila
Even if not crores, there are Ramlilas willing to spend close to a crore to enhance the festivities for visitors. For instance, the Shri Dharmic Leela Committee is spending close to `80-90 lakh on conducting the Ramlila in Subhash Maidan. While Ravi Jain, press secretary, Shri Dharmic Leela Committee, refuses to divulge the amount being spent, he says, “Obviously, with rising prices, the budget for Ramlila has also increased. The Ramlila, which is organised by our general secretary, Dheeraj Dhar Gupta, and secretary, Pradeep Sharan, has retained its traditional form. There are certain attractions which require a large sum of money. For example, there is a laser light that is used when the kids are born in Raja Dashrath’s home. When Raavan tries to breach the Lakshman rekha during the Sita haran sequence, fire will erupt as soon as he puts his foot on the line. Even when Hanuman gets the sanjeevani booti, he is shown flying with the help of a cable. Humaara three-tier stage hai jo aisa impression deta hai ki Ram aur Raavan ki ladaai aakash, dharti aur pataal, teenon mein ho rahi hai.”

The Shri Dharmic Leela Committee’s Ramlila
The 70-75 lakh Ramlila
Prakash Bairathi, secretary, Nav Shri Dharmic Lila Committee, says, “Last year, we had spent around `60 lakh on organising Ramlila. Every year, we see a 10% increase in the budget. So, this year, we are expecting that we will end up spending anywhere between `70- 75 lakhs, as we have made arrangements to make it look better than last year. For the Sita swayamvar, we had a rotating stage and we had a special fireworks display when Sita gets married to Ram. There will also be a special fireworks display in the form of Niagara Falls during Dussehra. The effigies of Raavan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath have rotating eyes, and the fireworks will start when Ram shoots an arrow at Raavan’s navel. The effigy will start burning from the navel and then the fire will travel all the way to his neck. A lot of money is also being spent on a continuous supply of electricity for the smooth functioning of the event.”

Actors from the Nav Shri Dharmic Lila Committee perform the Ramlila
The 20-25 lakh Ramlila
Rajesh Khanna, secretary, Shri Ram Lila Committee, says, “Every year, we make improvements to the sets and decor to make it look better than the last performance. We have the same team that has been with us for a long time. With rising prices in raw materials and stage decoration items, we see an 8-10% rise in budget in Ramlila. Ours is the oldest Ramlila – it was started by Bahadur Shah Zafar. We have a procession everyday in Chandni Chowk with all our actors before the Ramlila begins. We also play host to a lot of political dignitaries who come to visit our Ramlila. This time, Sonia Gandhiji will be coming.”
The 5-6 lakh Ramlila
Yet, there are some who don’t rely on special effects and tend towards the more traditional means of drama to pull the crowd in. Avtar Singh, general secretary, Shri Navyuvak Ramlila Committee, Kashmere Gate, says, “Our budget is a modest one and we spend `5-6 lakh on organizing Ramlila. Rather than voice-overs for Ramlila artistes, our actors say their own dialogues. There are 2-3 girls who play some minor roles, but Sita is still played by a guy, who looks more appealing than any woman in Sita’s attire. Rather than relying on glamorous ways of drawing visitors to us, we believe in presenting an authentic Ramlila to draw crowds. Our actors don’t charge any money to perform in the Ramlila. In fact, they even donate money to the event.”

The Shri Navyuvak Ramlila Committee’s Ramlila actors perform on a modest budget