Kolkata Troupe Keeps Ramayana Alive on Lucknow Stage for 21 Years

In Lucknow, the annual Ram Utsav at Aishbagh has been a grand spectacle for the past 21 years, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated troupe from Kolkata's Bhaskar Kala Kendra. Led by director and theatre stalwart Bhaskar Bose, the group has been bringing the timeless tale of the Ramayana to life for Lucknow audiences.

The three-hour performance on stage is the result of rigorous 8-hour daily practice and months of planning by the artists. Bose, who himself takes on multiple roles, including those of Raja Dashrat, Parshuram, Valmiki, and Hanuman, says that every sequence and character is a challenge. This year, the toughest part was staging the exile scene when Rama leaves Ayodhya.

The troupe is filled with talented performers, such as Prasanta Parida, who has been playing the role of Rama since 2022, and Sajal Sarkar, who stepped in to play Ravana after the veteran actor Shankar Pal broke his leg. Other artists, including Prithwijith Saha, Neha Rajbhanshi, Yash Srivastava, and Ujjwal Kundu, have also taken on demanding roles, often sacrificing their personal and professional commitments to be a part of this annual tradition.

Despite the exhaustion of makeup and rehearsals, the performers find strength in the audience's praise and the joy of bringing the Ramayana to life on stage. For them, the Ramayana is not just a play, but a way of life that transcends the boundaries of time and space.