Ramayana Playscript

RAMAYANAM A Play for Children and Youth

(Music 1 – Two children walk across the auditorium with dhoopam. Lights focused on them). 1. (On the apron) Ganapathi Sloham Ganesha Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deve Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada 2. Opening dance (Music - 2) -----------screen opens--------------(Music 3) -

INSIDE THE PALACE -

3. Narrator: (Music 4 – Flute) Here is the Holy legend Ramayana, brought to you by Rishi Valmiki 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

Rama was the first of four sons born to King Dhashrata and Queen Kaushalya Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugan were his siblings in Ayodya. 1

Let’s now turn to the picture this epic draws Let’s 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 father’s 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 wand’ring 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 woman’s 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, Sita’s exile is decreed, Car and steed and gilded palace, vain are these to woman’s life, Dearer is her husband’s 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 brother’s 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 Sita–She runs behind it - (Music 5 Ends) (Butterflies and Birds leave) Seetha to Rama asking to bring the deer and Lakshmana adviced to protect Seetha Sita: mந்j khid ghUங்fள்! vன்d moF! vdக்F mந்j khன் Ntண்Lம். Rama: சீjh mJ xU kha khன். Sita: MdhYம் vdக்F mJ Ntண்Lம். Rama: rup cன் tpUப்gம். ehன் gpbத்J tUfpன்Nwன். mJtiu yzkkண் Jiz,Uப்ghன். Yzkzh சீjhit ghர்jJக் nfhள். Lakshman: rup mண்zh. 5. (Music 6) - Rama goes behind the deer – Rama goes out – 6. Out of stage – Rama’s voice “Lakshmana” - Lakshmana and Seetha talk – draws the line - leaves Sita and goes to the jungle Sita:

VNjh Mgத்J! yakzh Nghய் ghர்த்J th.

Lakshman: kன்dpக்f Ntண்Lம் jhNa- mண்zhtpன் fl;lisia ehன் மீw KbahJ. Sita:

ehன் MizapLfpன்Nwன்!

Nghய் ghர்த்J th!

Lakshman draws safety line Lakshman: rup Mdhல் ehன் tUம்

tiu

,க் Nfhட்il மீwp tu Ntண்lhம்.

7. (Music 7) (JUNGLE – evening Red Sky) - Ravana comes as a hermit Ravana: Sita:

jhNa!

rற்W

grpக்FJ.

czT fpilக்Fkh?

nghWங்fள் - nfhண்L tUfpன்Nwன். 3

( goes in and brings food) Ravana: ntsp apல் thங்Nfh. [Sita comes out to give food and crosses safety line]

Ravana: (Reveals himself) Mu HAHAHA…..!!!!!! Sita:

Swami……………….. !!!.Lakshmana………………..!!! (Music 8) fhப்ghற்Wங்fள்!

fhப்ghற்Wங்fள்!

8. When Seetha is taken Jathayu comes attacking Ravana gets seriously injured.(Music 8 ENDS) Ravana leaves with Sita. Jatahyu: ahர் நீ? Ntண்lhம்! Ntண்lhம்! (Music 9) 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: vன்d elந்jJ? [Lakshman tries to help Jatahyu]

Jatahyu: சீjhit Ravanan flத்jp tpட்lhன்! (…. Jatahyu turns and dies; Ram and Lakshman- worried faces) Narrator: Ah, my lost and loving Seetha! Writhing in a Raksha’s 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, Seetha’s 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 4

Overjoyed he on knowing Rama’s 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. (Music 9 ends) 10. Hanuman is going to Lanka - (BLUE SKY) - (Music 10) Narrator: Rama’s 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! 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,—Ravan’s 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 Ravan’s 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) ( Ravana’s brother Vibeeshana crowned Lanka’s King / All leave the stage) Narrator: Know, that Truth and Virtue in Vibeeshan’s heart, Made Lanka inherit a righteous king, (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 father’s 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, Valmiki’s and Kamba’s Ramayana versions influenced this production immensely. Note 3: This play has its bilingual expression through Tamil and English.

Playwright’s Email: [email protected]

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