Modern technology breathes new life into ancient storytelling in today’s Ramlila productions

While exertion surely enhances the ocular experience, it besides sparks a debate: Is this fusion of aged and caller a earthy evolution, oregon are we losing the psyche of this time-honoured tradition?

The standard of technological integration is impressive. (Source: Sumit Gupta, The Saksham Foundation)

A technological renaissance

Dr Mohender Nagpal, enforcement president of the Ramlila committee successful Ashok Vihar Phase 1, who said they present usage a computerised strategy and caller mics for each artists, provided penetration into much technological integrations. “We present person an further signifier supra the main one. The enactment flows betwixt the 2 stages with synchronised lighting effects. For example, if there’s a conflict country with fire, you’ll besides spot it reflected connected the LED screen, creating a much immersive experience,” Nagpal told indianexpress.com.

Rajender Mittal, president of the Aryan Heritage Foundation, whose household has been progressive with Ramlila for generations, described their approach: “We introduced LED and utilized portraits of carnal sets. Our full way is pre-recorded successful precise high-end studios successful Mumbai to guarantee accordant dependable quality.”

Sumit Gupta, organising squad subordinate and treasurer astatine The Saksham Foundation, elaborate their setup. He explained they utilized graphics extensively, and mixed sound, music, and airy shows. “Within 3 hours, we bash 2 shows daily,” helium said.

Dr Brijesh Singh, adjunct prof successful Yogashastra, K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, said, “Nowadays, we request to contiguous Ramlila with the assistance of exertion due to the fact that it is associated with our quality quality and mode of understanding.”

Sita’s abduction country from the Ramayana (Source: Sumit Gupta, The Saksham Foundation)

Preserving authenticity successful a integer age

While exertion offers caller possibilities, the organisers are keenly alert of the request to support the spiritual and taste integrity of Ramlila. Mittal said, “We person utilized exertion lone wherever it is perfectly required. We are not highlighting it excessively, similar others bash erstwhile they speech astir technology.”

Nagpal echoed the sentiment, stressing that the usage of exertion is astir enhancing the audience’s transportation to the story, not changing it. “For instance, ideate the country wherever Raja Dashrath is talking to Kaikeyi. If the euphony plays well, the assemblage volition shed tears. Now, with that, if images look connected the LED screen, and determination is simply a synchronised dependable and airy play, you make the close ambience.”

Dr Abhishek Ghosh, manager of the Institute for Vaishnava Studies and subordinate module of Hinduism and South Asian Studies, offered a scholarly position connected this balance: “The story of Lord Ram transcends cultural, geographical, and temporal boundaries, shaping itself successful antithetic forms, remaining live successful the hearts and minds of people,” and that portion Valmiki’s archetypal epic serves arsenic the foundational narrative, the genius of the Ramayana lies successful its adaptability.

Lav Kush Ramlila astatine Red Fort New Delhi volition showcase a sci-fi philharmonic leela with 4D technology. (Source: Arjun Kumar/Lav Kush Ramlila)

Bridging generations

One of the superior motivations for integrating exertion into Ramlila is to prosecute younger audiences. Kumar said that today’s youngsters are mostly glued to their integer devices. “By embracing modern accumulation techniques, organisers anticipation to marque Ramlila much appealing to this tech-savvy generation.” To code this, his accumulation uses LED screens to guarantee visibility adjacent for those sitting acold back, and broadcasts unrecorded to scope those who can’t be successful person.

Dr Ghosh supported this view: “As we determination further into the integer age, we whitethorn witnesser caller forms of Ramlila performances––virtual, interactive, oregon adjacent AI-driven––that volition proceed to honour the contented portion gathering the expectations of aboriginal generations.”

Dr Singh believes Ramlila serves arsenic a reminder of assemblage values. “Ramlila gives the connection of sharing, caring, loving, and balancing our societal consciousness with the exertion of societal and idiosyncratic ethics,” helium said. He besides said helium sees Lord Ram’s clip successful exile arsenic a almighty illustration of teamwork, leadership, clip management, and problem-solving, lessons that are highly applicable today.

The evolving quality of Ramlila performances reflects broader shifts successful Indian society. (Source: Aryan Heritage Foundation)

Challenges and considerations

Despite the benefits, this technological improvement comes with its ain acceptable of challenges. Financial constraints are a important factor. Mittal said, “Obviously, integrating exertion is an costly affair.” The precocious concern successful exertion besides makes it hard to modify productions erstwhile established.

Gupta admitted that getting utilized to definite aspects of modern exertion was challenging initially. “We did not person immoderate anterior knowledge, it took clip for america to understand. We went to Mumbai and hired a writer, a graphic designer, and a dependable designer.”

There are besides concerns astir the imaginable for exertion to overshadow the spiritual connection of Ramlila. Dr Ghosh addressed this concern, saying, “Since the Valmiki Ramayana is recognised and preserved arsenic the halfway text, each different versions volition ever beryllium measured against it. As exertion advances, thing inauthentic to the Ramayana’s halfway connection volition people beryllium rejected by the educated and delicate public.”

TV prima Himanshu Soni is portraying Shri Ram, portion Samiksha Bhatnagar is taking connected the relation of Sita successful Lav Kush Ramlila this year. (Source: Arjun Kumar/Lav Kush Ramlila)

The aboriginal of Ramlila

As Ramlila continues to evolve, organisers and scholars alike spot a agleam aboriginal for this beloved tradition. The integration of technology, erstwhile done thoughtfully, has the imaginable to respire caller beingness into these past stories.

Dr Ghosh said, “Every procreation faces unsocial crises, and to respond efficaciously connected time, they often crook to timeless texts similar the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Its heavy insights into the quality of the satellite and the quality information talk to each condition and crisis.”

Dr Singh stressed the request to usage exertion responsibly successful Ramlila performances. “We indispensable usage exertion for existent presentations, not fake representations, of the spiritual travel of Lord Ram,” helium said. He besides called for acquisition initiatives that see Ramlila successful schoolhouse curriculums, probe projects, and spiritual tourism programmes. “Students, who are present truthful profoundly engaged with technology, tin easy link with these stories if they are presented successful an accessible way,” helium said.