"Humare Ram": A Musical Extravaganza!

We grew up listening to Ramayana from our grandparents. We watched it in the form of Ramleela on stage, and on television screens as one of the biggest shows ever. Umpteen versions of the epic have appeared in films, plays and TV series. Yet, what is it about the recent theatre production "Humare Ram" that has taken India by storm? I got an opportunity to watch the play a few days ago and see for myself the reasons behind this phenomenon. 

The production's tagline says, "Discover Ramayana's untold chapters live on stage". It boasts an ensemble cast of talented actors led by the formidable Ashutosh Rana in the role of Ravan. Rana is not only a terrific actor, but he is also an accomplished orator, scholar, writer, and presenter with a deep voice, and an admirable fluency in Hindi with excellent diction. He has written a book "Ramrajya" that won him the Sahitya Academy Award in 2023. And he had always wanted to play Ravan ever since he watched Ramleela as a child, fascinated as he was by the powerful character. All of this makes him the perfect choice for the role of Ravan. 

Ram, on the other hand is played by Rahull R Bhuchar with the required dignity and decorum. Bhuchar is an actor, producer and entrepreneur. He has produced "Humare Ram" under the banner of his Felicity Theatre. Wearing multiple hats, he also co-wrote the play along with Naresh Katyayan.

Perhaps it will not be right to call it just a play. It is a grand theatrical production presented making use of the available technology in terms of lights, sound, music, and digital screens that bring alive numerous backdrops. So, in one scene, you see a royal palace with windows opening to blue skies and flying birds, in the next scene it could be a forest with a gurgling waterfall, and yet another scene depicts waves in an ocean almost touching the floor of the stage! Beautiful costumes and pleasing props add to the overall look and feel of the play. Also, most of the major characters make their entries from within the audience, giving us an immersive experience.

What are the untold chapters that we discover here? The makers claim that they have found these nuggets after extensive research into different versions of the Ramayana. We know the story of Ravan's sister Shurpanakha whose nose and ears were cut off by Lakshman because she made undue advances towards Ram and Lakshman in the forest. The twist in "Humare Ram" is that Shurpanakha did what she did because she wished to take revenge on Ravan as he had killed her husband. She knew that her brother would eventually lose in the fight with Ram and Lakshman. 

Another nugget is that when Ram built a bridge on the ocean to go to Ravan's capital, he wanted to pray to Lord Shiva before starting on his way to Sri Lanka. He invited Ravan for the consecration of the Shivalinga and Ravan did come in spite of the fact that the two were about to start a war against each other. And the place was named Rameshwaram at Ravan's suggestion. 

There are more but let me refrain from mentioning them here as they could be spoilers. But what is worth mentioning is the fact that Ravan is portrayed in this play as a scholar, a powerful ruler and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. Many other productions have depicted Ravan as a mere villainous character.

In the age of short content and reels, "Humare Ram" captivates the audience for more than three hours without an interval. There is action, drama, dance, war, and many applause-worthy lines that keep the auditorium alive. Some of them, especially about the position of women in a family and society are as relevant today as they were then. The entire play is written in delightful couplets. And then there are moments. My favourite is when Ravan recites the Shiva Tandava stotra and Shiva dances to it. It was magical. Ashutosh Rana has himself translated the Sanskrit verses to Hindi and it is sheer joy to listen to his powerful voice recite them. I also loved the act put on by the spunky Deepti Kumari in the role of Shurpanakha. 

Then there are Hanuman, Sita, Luv-Kush and a host of other characters who are very good in their acts. Shankar Mahadevan, Kailash Kher and Sonu Nigam have lent their voices to the beautiful songs that add a special touch to the production. You may listen to them here.

The absolute takeaway from the play is life lessons given by Ravan to Lakshman. There are many gems there but here is just one: रावण को ज्ञान का अहंकार था और राम को अहंकार का ज्ञान. 

"Humare Ram" has been touring various cities in India for the last one year. I watched its 196th show. Do watch it if it visits your city.

"42nd Street" In London's West End!

West End is the Mecca of theatre lovers in London. This beautiful and fashionable area in Central and West London is home to about forty or more theatres that are steeped in the culture and art of this historic city. The impressive buildings with their imposing facades stand with pride, inviting people to experience quality theatre.

I watched a musical, "42nd Street" in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane just a few days ago. Commonly known as Drury Lane, the building is the most recent of four theatres which stood at the same location, the earliest of which was built in 1663. This makes it the oldest theatre site in London still in use.

The building that we see today opened in 1812. It has of course undergone renovations since then. It is a grand structure with opulent interiors. Spread over four tiers, it seats over 2,000 people. It has been hosting long runs of prominent musicals over last several decades. It is owned by noted composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

I caught an afternoon show. The time of the day on a weekday meant that senior citizens formed a major part of the audience. I saw many couples, and single women in groups alighting from their cabs in front of the theatre. Many of them were having a tough time negotiating the steps in the auditorium, but I guess their love for theatre overpowered their discomfort. A large group of schoolgirls was there too, clapping and cheering throughout the performance. 

"42nd Street" is a 1980 Broadway production, based on a 1933 film which in turn was based on a 1932 novel of the same name by Bradford Ropes. The show was a hit, winning several awards in different categories. It is a spectacular offering, with a large cast and energetic dance and music sequences. The opening scene sets the tone for the visual and musical treat that is to follow. First, the curtain opens just enough to reveal a long line of tapping feet and then it rises to show about 50 men and women dressed in bright colours dancing and singing joyously.

The story is about a musical "Pretty Lady" for which auditions are going on. The personal relations between the director, writer, lead performers, new entrant Peggy Sawyer and ageing Prima Donna Dorothy Brock come to the forefront as the story unfolds. Along with the music and dance, there is drama, humour and wit as the extravaganza takes us through the next 120 minutes (150 minutes with the intermission).

The costumes with their feathers and spangles are absolutely awesome. The stage is mostly bare, with very few or no props on it. Backdrops have been used generously to convey change of scene and location. I liked the idea of a small room being wheeled in onto the stage and wheeled out into the darkness in the blink of an eye. Once, a part of a house on two levels was brought in, complete with a working staircase. At another time, the whole stage was taken over by a giant staircase with members of the cast jumping and dancing on it. And the performance is absolutely flawless. Of course nothing less is expected from a long-running and award-winning Broadway show being staged at a prominent theatre in the West End.

It is a delight watching well-known British-American singer, recording artist, and stage and screen actress Sheena Easton play the role of Dorothy Brock, who was a lead star once, but now past her prime. She is domineering, bad-tempered, pampered and tough; but shows her softer side by recognising talent when she sees it. Rest of the cast have done a wonderful job too. 

Photos by Lata

The show features lovely songs. In addition to the songs that appeared in the original film, it includes many other songs that the lyricist and the composer wrote for other films around the same time. I liked "About A Quarter To Nine", "Forty-Second Street", " There's a Sunny Side to Every Situation", and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" a lot. The last one was added especially for Sheena Easton in the 2017 West End revival.

Being part of an appreciative audience is always exciting. But I wonder how much more exciting and fulfilling it must have been for those on the stage who were greeted with loud rounds of applause several times during the show. That indeed is the best part of theatre!