Sita No Vesh Explores Morality and Womanhood in Reinterpretation of the Ramayana

About Sita No Vesh

The play, inspired from Uttararamacharitam, explores events following the coronation of Rama. Centered on Sita and Chhaya Sita, it intertwines two narratives: the washer-man expelling his wife Chhaya Sita, and the same washer-man casting doubts upon Sita’s chastity. Through this intertextual structure, the play delves into themes of morality, social perception, and the complexities of righteousness.

Scenes

Scene 1: During Rama’s coronation, Sita is disturbed by the washer-man’s unjust act. To comfort her, Rama revisits pictures from their past, re-enacting the Ramayana. However, upon hearing society’s accusations from his spy Durmukh, an unwilling Rama banishes the pregnant Sita into exile.

Scene 2: As preparations for the Ashvamedha Yajna commence, Rama arrives at Panchvati, where an idol of Sita is being sculpted. Sita’s idol comes to life; she can see Rama, though Rama cannot see her. The two relive their past moments of love.

Scene 3: The Yajna horse reaches Valmiki’s hermitage, sparking a clash between Luv and Chandraketu. Rama arrives as Kush stages “Sita No Vesh”, bringing emotional resolution through the symbolic reunion of Rama and Sita.

Writer

Mahakavi Bhavabhuti was a renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist who lived during the 8th century AD. His artistic approach was characterized by his deep understanding of human nature and his ability to capture the essence of complex human emotions in his writing. His most celebrated works are Mahaviracharitam, Malatimadhava, and Uttararamacharitam.

Director

Dr. Pramod is a Theatre Director and Academician specializing in classical Indian dramaturgy, postcolonial theatre, and intercultural performance. He is a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Award in Theatre Direction from SNA, Delhi, and the Gujarat Gaurav Award from GSNA. He serves as a Post-Doctoral Fellow (ICSSR), with twelve years of teaching experience at the Department of Dramatics, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

He has served as a Visiting Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin, USA, was selected for a Theatre Residency at National Theatre Marin Sorescu, Romania, and was awarded the Korean Arts and Cultural Research Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, South Korea. His training includes the Suzuki Method under Suzuki Tadashi (SCOT), Japan, and Peking Opera at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, China.

He has directed eighteen major productions and presented at prestigious festivals including the International Theatre Festival of India (NSD), META Festival (Delhi), Minerva Theatre Festival (Kolkata), SNA Festival (Manipur), Goa Theatre Festival, and Vasant Theatre Festival (Mumbai).

Director’s Note

Dr. Chavan’s creative pursuits primarily engage with classic texts and their contemporary interpretations. The play Sita No Vesh examines womanhood by reflecting upon the existence, role, and rights of women, reinterpreting the Ramayana through a contemporary lens.

Group

Upasana School of Performing Arts is an initiative of Gujarat University, established in 2011. The institution provides an academic platform for aspiring artists to pursue programmes in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music, Tabla, Sitar, Theatre, Kathak, and Bharatanatyam. Upasana is headed by Dr. Viraj Amar.