The following play I wrote for Diwali Program of Deep River / Pembroke Area East Indian Community – Saturday 24 October 1987. The Play was called ” Ram Recital ”
The Play was created /written such that almost all kids (of the community ) can participate in the play.
The play had music , dances, drama and dialogues as well as historical Ramayana Theme.
I recently found my hand written script – and now I have type – written it for posterity . Please note I have a video of the actual play – somewhere around the house. Both my kids (Nina & Sunir) participated in the play along with other kids of the Esat Indian Community.
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The play
Deep River/ Pembroke Area – Diwali Program – Saturday 24 October 1987
A Play – playwright / written by Pravin Shah & conducted by Jackie Shah
Play title : RAM RECITAL
Actors : All children from the East Indian Community
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PROLOGUE
Stage : All actors on the stage . See Sketch 1 for positions.
Curtain : Opens
Narrator : To celebrate victory of ” good over evil ” .
The story of Rama and his victory over forces of Ravana is depicted
in the drama played by our young people ,The drama is called
” Ram Recital ”
Ram (echo ) Ram Ram Ram
Distinguished brothers of Ancient times
Trail Blazers ! Path Finders !
Ram Laxman Bharat and Shatrughna
Raghuvanch family of Ayodhhya
Holy Vibrant land of India
Ancient Rishies and Prayers
Ram (echo ) Ram Ram Ram
Banished Ram at shores of Ganges
Lovely Sita and Laxman at side
Brilliance of Yonder years
Forbearance of Vishnu and Brahma
Ram Sita and Laxman in forests
For obedience to father’s wishes
Bharat anointed King of Ayodhhya
With schemes of mother Kaiykai
Pioneering Bharat with brotherly love
Ultimately to rule for brotherly Ram
Lanka the pearl of Indian ocean
Lustful powerful King Ravana
Sita Royal loyal wife of Ram
Beautiful Arya Sita abducted by Ravana
Ram Laxman battle against wrong
Ravana and cronies slained
Rishies Hanuman and all peoples
Rejoice honour justice and peace
World a stage full of right and wrong
Players we are ! with Ram’s teachings !
Ram our hero saviour of honour
Instill in us love for family and justice
Curtain : Closes
Act I
STAGE : All actors move to New Positions or out of stage
These remain on the stage :
Dasrath <- Body gurad
Qeens ( Kaiykai, Kausalya, & Sumitra)
Princes ( All princes except Bharat )
Bharat goes to Kaiykai ( off the stage)
Sita
Narrator :
King Dasrath and Ayodhya kingdom were happy since the return of Ram and Laxman from their service to Visvamitra in his fight against Demons and Rakhshsha. Ram was married to Sita.
One day Dasrath thought he was growing old and he decided to hand over the throne to Rama and go to forest for prayers in the Hindu tradition.
Act 1 is the scene of court when Dasrath announces this decision. At this time Bharat was away from Kingdom to visit his mother’s relatives in Kekaya.
CURTAIN : Opens
Act 1 (contd)
Dasrath : I am pleased to be with my family.
My sons , my eyes are filled with joy to see you.
Bharat is away but he is in my thoughts .
Sita is like my daughter.
Ram, you are a good prince. You are helping me in the Royal duties very ably.
( Ram comes forward and gives his greetings by bowing )
Ram : I am your son, a Prince of Raghuvansh.
I am proud to be able to carry out your commands. My brothers help me always.
Dasrath : That is good . I am getting old and I want to spend time in prayers.
And so, therefore I am announcing and it is my wishes and command that Ram takes over the Kingdom and pronounced as the King of Ayodhya.
The coronation will be tomorrow.
( Ram again comes forward and bows )
Ram : I am duty bound to do as you command . My brothers are with me.
( Laxman comes forward and bows )
Laxman : We all brothers are very happy and we will be with Ram at all times .
CURTAIN : Closes.
Act II
Stage : All actors off the stage.
– Ras / Garba / Dance Group come on stage
Narrator:
With the announcement of Rama’s coronation , there was joy and
dancing in the street of Ayodhya.
CURTAIN: Opens
Ras / Graba / Dance
CURTAIN : Closes at the end of Ras / Graba / Dance
Act III
Stage: All dancers etc. off the stage
Kaiykai in disheveled attire lying on the floor with her ornaments on the floor
Dasarath enters as curtain opens
Narrator :
When the news of the coronation of Rama was announced ,
Manthra – Kaiykai’s personal maid – was agitated. She influenced Kaiykai badly and prompted her to seek kingdom for her son Bharat instead of Ram.
Kaiykai had won two boons from King Dasarath earlier before by saving his life during a war with Rakshasas. Now Kaiykai asks for fulfillment of those two boons.
Act III
CURTAIN : Opens
Dasarath enters
He sees Kaiykai – lying on the floor and all her ornaments on the floor.
Dasarath : What’s the matter O, my Queen
Tell me who has offended you
Kaiykai wails and beat breasts and rolls
Dasarath : My Queen, please tell me. I swear in the name of my beloved Rama, I will do anything to restore your peace of mind.
Kaiykai : Do you remember two boons you promised me.
I want to ask them now.
Dasarath : How can I forget ? You have my word.
You may ask for them
Kaiykai : Oh! Indra, Oh! Varuna. He has said I can have my boons .
I ask
One : My son Bharat shall be crowned as King
Two : Ram is asked to go to Dandaka Forest for 14 years.
Dasarath looked thunderstruck , speechless and falls on ground .
Dasarath : Oh! God, Oh! Visnu, is this punishment for what I did to Shravan and to his parents when I was young ?
I can live without Kingdom , without comfort but I cannot live without Ram. Oh ! my Ram.
Shravan , what happened when I was young was an accident, a mistake .
CURTAIN : Closes
Act IV
Stage : Shravan lies near river with arrow in his heart
King Dasarath (at younger age )
Shravan’s blind parrents
Narrator:
When Dasarath was a young prince he had gone out hunting in the forest. Dasarath was a very good marksman. From far he heard a sound that of an elephant drawing water through his trunk. He ( Dasarath) shot an arrow assuming it was an elephant.
He heard a human cry. ‘ O Dear God ‘ and found Shravan at the river bank – hit by his arrow
The young boy was on a pilgrimage taking his blind parents to various places that they wanted to go . Shravan was respectful to his parents and carried them around . At this time he had left his parents to a secure place and came to the river to get water for them.
CURTAIN : Opens.
Shravan : Oh! Dear God .
Who has shot this arrow?
I have no enemy !
Dasarath heard the cry and trembled with an unknown fear
He comes to the river and looked at Shravan
He became speechless
Shravan looks at Dasrath and says:
O, Why did you commit this sin?
Who will look after my parents?
Dasarath : I am very sorry . It was a mistake. Honest.
Shravan : Go to my parents . Give them water.
Dasarath : I will . I am so sorry
Shravan : And beg their forgiveness .
Dasarath takes water and goes to the blind parents
When the old couple heard the footsteps ,
Old Man : Dear son , why did you take long ?
Old woman : Were you playing in the water ?
Dasarath : Holy father, Mother
Forgive me . I am not your son
But Dasarath
My arrow accidently hit your
son and killed him
Old man, old woman : O, Shravan O, Shravan
Dasarath : He asked me to bring this water to you
Please forgive me . I am at your mercy.
Old man : Your sin is very grave indeed.
Old woman : But it was committed unknowingly
Old man : One thing is certain that you too will suffer pangs of separation
from your beloved son.
Old woman : Our curse is that you will also die as we will die with our son
CURTAIN : Closes.
Act V
Stage : Ravana and Army
Hanuman and Army
Sita
Ram and Laxman
Narrator :
Ram went away to forests to keep his father’s word. Laxman and Sita joined him.
King Dasarath died with the pain of separation from his Ram.
Bharat comes back from Kekaya to find Ram, Laxman and Sita gone to forest. He tries to get Ram back but Ram fulfils his father’s promise and stay in forest , Bharat runs kingdom on behalf of Ram.
Meanwhile in the forest, Ravana , the King of Lanka kidnapped Sita and asked her to marry him. Sita refuges . Ram went to defend honour and bring Sita back.
Hanuman and his army joins Ram in war against demon Ravana and finally victory comes.
Act V (Contd)
CURTAIN : Opens
( Sita is sitting under a tree guarded by Ravana’s army )
Hanuman : O, Ram we are with you.
You are protector of all good .
Ram : We have to defend our family, .
Our nation and honour .
We will destroy the Raksasa and evil force.
Your help is timely.
Ravana : I have magic
I have heavenly help.
I am invincible
Hanuman : You cannot fight with Lord of the good .
War starts
Rama gives a blow to Ravana and he dies
There was joy and happiness.
CURTAIN : Closes.
Act VI
Stage: All actors on the stage
See Sketch 2 for positions
CURTAIN : Opens
Narrator:
Ram returns to Ayodhya after 14 years in forests and winning war over evil .
He assumes the throne from Bharat
He rules his kingdom with love, justice and care for common people.
A ” Ram Rajya ” followed and everywhere there was peace,
non-violence and respect for each other
CURTAN : Opens
FINALE — with the following songs
1) Violence Violence Go away
2) Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
(Audience join in singing)
3) Jana Mana Adhi Nayak – India’s national song.
(Audience join in singing)
ALL ACTORS STAND AND CURTSY
play finishes.
