RAMAYANA

1. (Music 1 Two children walk across the auditorium with smoke. Lights focused on them).

2. Opening dance (Music - 2) -----------screen opens--------------(Music 3) 3. Narrator: (Music 4 Flute) Here is the Holy legend Ramayana, brought to you by Veronica Medrano This is the journey of Lord Rama, avatar of Lord Vishnu. Listen to the challenges faced by Rama while attempting to build a Dharma Rajyam It was His father - King Dasaratha who wanted him to be crowned as the king of Ayodya INSIDE THE PALACE -

Rama was the first of four sons born to King Dhashrata and Queen Kaushalya Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugan were his siblings in Ayodya. Lets now turn to the picture this epic draws Lets move to the depths of the virtues it brings -----------Dasharatha, Kaikey and Rama (still figures)----------------Narrator: Let me tell you, the first challenge Rama faced After enjoying the gladsome clime Ayodya gave Monarch Dasratha, - for his days were almost done, Wished to crown the royal Rama as his Heir and Regent son But the scheming Queen Kaikeyi claimed a long-forgotten boon, That Rama should be exiled and her son Bharat should fill the throne. Calmly Rama heard the mandate, grief nor anger touched his heart, Calmly from his fathers empire and his home prepared to part. ----------------Sitha, Rama (still figures)-----------------Dearly loved, devoted Sita! daughter of a royal line, Part we now, for years of wandring in the pathless woods is mine, To my father Dasaratha and to my mother Queen Kaushalya Offer

thy consolation, be a daughter fond and true! Sita, Stirred by loving womans passion boldly answered thus her lord: Do I hear my husband rightly, are these words my Rama spake? For the faithful woman follows where her wedded lord may lead, In the banishment of Rama, Sitas exile is decreed, Car and steed and gilded palace, vain are these to womans life, Dearer is her husbands shadow to the loved and loving wife! Lakshmana and Ram (still figures) If my elder and his lady to the pathless forests wend, Armed with bow and ample quiver Lakshman will on them attend, 2 Words of brothers deep devotion Rama heard with grateful heart, And with Sita and with Lakshman for the woods prepared to part: Dasaratha, faint and feeble, listened to these words of pain, Stood and saw his son departing,saw him not on earth again! (Music 4 Flute ENDS) JUNGLE (morning) 4. (nature & Panchavadi Song Music 5) Enter: (Enter Butterflies and Birds / Lakshman, Sita and Ram) - Deer arrives for the first laugh of SitaShe runs behind it (Music 5 Ends) (Butterflies and Birds leave) Seetha to Rama asking to bring the deer and Lakshmana advised to protect Seetha Sita: Rama, please bring the deer for it will help you Rama: But how about you? The deer likes you Sita: It will learn to like you too. Rama: I will take of it, dont worry. Thank you Sita. Lakshman: Rama, protect Sita. (Music 6) - Rama goes behind the deer Rama goes out 5. Out of stage Ramas voice Lakshmana - Lakshmana and Seetha talk draws the line leaves Sita and goes to the jungle

(Music 7) (JUNGLE evening Red Sky) - Ravana comes as a hermit Ravana (As a hermit): Do you have some food? Sita: Yes I have. But I cant cross the safety line. Ravana (As a hermit): Nothing will happen if you cross the safety line.

Goes in and brings food Ravana: Go ahead, cross the safety line. Sita comes out to give food and crosses safety line Ravana: (Reveals himself) Mu HAHAHA..!!!!!! Sita: Music 8) When Seetha is taken Jathayu comes attacking Ravana - gets seriously injured. (Music 8 ENDS) Ravana leaves with Sita. Jatahyu: Sita! Sita! (Music 9) Rama and Lakshmana come looking for Seetha and Jathayu tells that Ravana took Seetha. Rama and Lakshmana see Jatayu lying on the ground, trying to get up. Rama: Wheres Sita? Lakshman tries to help Jatahyu Jatahyu: Ravana took Sita (. Jatahyu turns and dies; Ram and Lakshman- worried faces) Narrator: Ah, my lost and loving Seetha! Writhing in a Rakshas power, As the lightning shakes and quivers in this dark tempestuous shower, Joyously from throne and empire with my Seetha I could part, As the stream erodes its margin, Seethas absence breaks my heart. (Hanuman enters) Here in the jungle the two brothers meet Hanuman the son of Vayuputhra - the lord of winds, Who took the shape of an ape and Rama he worships Overjoyed he on knowing Ramas mission, Readily obliges to look for Sita and give the ring by Rama as a token So did not he waste his time but took off to Lanka Hanuman the mighty went in search of Seetha. 10. Hanuman is going to Lanka - (BLUE SKY) - (Music 10) Narrator: Ramas messenger and vassal, token from thy lord I bring, For the loved and cherished Seetha is to Rama ever dear, And he sends his loving message and his force is drawing near! Swami.. !!!.Lakshmana..!!! (

Token from her raven tresses Seetha to the Vanar gave, Hanuman with dauntless valour crossed once more the ocean wave. Building of the bridge (Music 11) Rama and Lakshmana cross the bridge (Music 12) Narrator: Ravana convened his Council of War, Listen, Princes Chiefs and Warriors! speak your thoughts

without a fear. But Vibheeshan deep in wisdom,Ravans youngest brother he, Spake the word of solemn warning for his eye could farthest see: Pardon, king and honoured elder, What dark deed of crime or folly hath the righteous Rama done, That you stole his faithful consort unprotected and alone. Anger swelled in Ravans bosom as he cast his blood-red eye Rather dwell with open foemen or in homes where cobras haunt, Than with faithless friends who falter and whom fears of danger daunt! angry words thy lips have passed, answered Vibheeshan, 5 Speed thee now to thy destruction since all counsel is in vain! 11. War (RED SKY WITH STROBE) Rama and Ravana (Music 13) (When Ravana falls dead strobe stops and SKY turns to Blue mixed with Red) 12. (PINK AND BLUE SKY) ( Ravanas brother Vibeeshana crowned Lankas King / All leave the stage) Narrator: Know, that Truth and Virtue in Vibeeshans heart, Made Lanka inherit a righteous king, 13. (Music 14)(Conch and hewisi) (Crowning happens Vibeeshana leaves) It was Rama the righteous who brought gladness to all And after long fourteen years in wilderness, The hero was placed on his fathers ancient throne!

(Music 15 Sita is brought to Rama and both leave with others) (Decoration of stage happens)

PALACE BRIGHT LIGHTS Pattabhishekam (Dance) (Music 16) (Melam / Nadaswaram together with Sri Jayaram)

The End

Note 1: RAMAYANAM The Indian Epic which has, for the past 3000 years or more, influenced millions of lives in the East and the West is now before us bringing forth the young Rama in all his capacity to bear with the conditions created by the dear ones around him which demanded him to give up the crown and go into exile for fourteen years in the thick jungles. Young Rama as a child was fully prepared to accept the conditions in obeisance to his father King Dasharatha and never uttered a single word against the order which proved of his respect and loyalty to the elders. It is the sheer spirit of love that Rama radiates to all those around him and even for Ravana his enemy who abducted his dear wife. Rama is no one but the sum total of right thoughts and deeds. His concern was the inner beauty and calmness of life for which Sita and Lakshmana contributed immensely. It was this inner power that proved Rama as a strong personality even among the divine beings. The play enshrines all 6 these wonderful virtues that Rama possessed and finally delivers the magnificent result that one gains out of all these good qualities. The One who was expelled was finally called back to bear the crown which is the beginning of Dharma Rajyam or the Righteous State. It is only the inner discipline of the child that could bring this kind of a miraculous result which brings joy and happiness to everyone around him or her. Note 2: This play was done after a serious research into different versions of Ramayanam and especially, Valmikis and Kambas Ramayana versions influenced this production immensely. Note 3: This play has its bilingual expression through Tamil and English.