Assam Artisans Craft Lord Rama's Iconic Armor

The striking cane-and-rubber armor featured in the blockbuster film "Ramayana" is the product of remarkable craftsmanship from Assam's Barpeta district. Master artisan Jaynal Abdin, hailing from Jania Banglipara village, led a team of 15 local artisans. Together, they dedicated approximately three to three-and-a-half years to handcraft 30-35 pieces of this unique armor.

The journey to create the armor involved significant challenges. Initial designs made purely of cane proved too rigid for actors performing high-intensity action scenes. After feedback, the team incorporated rubber, eventually developing a hybrid cane-and-rubber design that met the film's demands for both aesthetics and actor mobility. Despite intermittent communication and tight deadlines, the artisans persevered.

While working on the project, the artisans were unaware of the film's monumental scale or its association with Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana." They were assured their work would eventually bring recognition. Now that the film has achieved significant box office success, the artisans are learning about the true impact of their dedicated labor.