Giving a fillip to tradition, this year Luv Kush Ramlila Committee has roped in popular television actors to play mythological characters in Ramleela. So this October Gajendra Chauhan will get a chance to redeem himself as Shankar and Punit Issar will turn up as Parshuram. There is a long list of actors who have made a name in the industry by playing mythological characters. Then there is Raza Murad as Ahiravan and Asrani as Naarad. “The idea is to rekindle young generation’s interest in our sacred texts by improving the quality of the performance. The story of Ram can never get outdated. We will tell it the traditional way,” says Manoj Tiwari, popular Bhojpuri actor and now a BJP MP from North East Delhi.
Requesting the attempt should not be seen from a political angle, Tiwari says Ramleela has been a source of employment for many for years. “Many actors have emerged after playing small parts in Ramleelas. I am an example.”
He maintains Ramleela has been a great leveller as it is a secular space. “Here actors are picked according to their talent and not their caste or religion. In villages you could easily have an actor belonging to a high caste touching the feet of an actor coming from a lower caste because he is suited to play Hanuman.”
Tiwari says he grew up playing Sita and Kaikayi. “In my village girls were not allowed to participate in Ramleela and sometimes we had a boy with a moustache play a female character. I would like to request girls to participate in large numbers so that nobody has to go through my experience,” he quips.
Rupa Dutta who is known for playing Maa Vaishno Devi on television has been roped in for the role of Sita. “For me Sita is the embodiment of sacrifice. I feel this generation should understand that true love is not possible without forgoing your ego.” Hailing from Kolkata, Rupa says unlike Tiwari she has grown up in culturally stimulating environment for girls. “In fact, once I played Hanuman in school. I used to jump around so much that the teacher thought I will fit in.”
Here Tiwari has offered to play Kewat. “For many it may be miniscule but for me it is a crucial role because as a boatman he made Lord Ram cross the river without asking for anything in return for himself. When the Lord insisted he asked for the salvation of his entire community. Maine tumhe yahhan paar lagaya, tum humein wahan paar lagana. It puts the poor in right perspective. He showed grace and character. He didn’t get carried away. Negativity is not going to take us anywhere. Today, we need social equilibrium and characters like Kewat should be celebrated.”
While Rupa is bracing up for high-pitched performance with gestures that could be seen till the last row, popular TV actor Surendra Pal knows what it takes. He has played many mythological and historical characters on television and will be seen as Ravan. Best remembered as Dronacharya of B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat , Pal spent his childhood in Etawah and Ghaziabad. “For us Ramleela was the primary source of entertainment. Despite lack of funds, a small stage was erected and the locals would put on some gaudy make up. Still we waited with abated breath for the performance. My personal favourite has been Lakshman-Parshuram dialogue.”
On television, says Pal, whenever he is cast as an antithesis of the positive force, the writers have a problem. “I make the dark so convincing that people find it difficult to separate the black from white. And with Ravan there is lot of scope. He was handsome and very well read. It is his arrogance that did him in,” exults Pal. Perhaps that’s why committee has not yet announced the name of the actor who will play Ram. Sources say that Shahid Kapoor is being roped in for the final day when Ravan is vanquished.
Asked whether it is a way to revive Ram Mandir movement, Tiwari denies. “Ram should be in the heart.” Over to October 13….
Booster dose
Arjun Kumar, Secretary of the Committee, says Ramleela is a living entity and different sections of the society draw sustenance from it. “Some come to watch it; others come to have a good time at the mela. And from the actors on stage to an old woman selling diyas at the periphery of the mela – all get benefitted. The entry of professional actors will give it a boost. The increase in footfalls will result in more charity. It will make it more financially viable.”
Earlier stars used to come on the final day for the customary killing of Ravan but this is the first time, claims Kumar that they are playing characters. “Many of them are giving 10 days and some extra time for rehearsals.”
Ashok Agarwal, President of the Committee remembers there was a time when actors were called as mere showpieces or for parallel events. “Once Amrita Singh came to stage and when she was asked about her favourite character she said: Ravan. Such instances bring down the seriousness of the event.” Agarwal promises aerial fights and flight of pushpak vimana will look authentic. “We have roped in professional costume and set designers and fight masters from Bollywood.”
As for actors who have been performing all these years Kumar says there are 100-odd characters. “We have cast big names only for some roles. The rest will be done by our regular artistes.”
