A play on a character from the Ramayana

is a play devised and performed by Vallari Kadekar. It is directed by Guru Bannanje and Sanjeeva Suvarna.
The play is based on Ravana’s sister, Shoorpanakha – the brazen and deformed, demonic figure. It is a character from the epic of Ramayana whom we are accustomed to vilify and dislike. Society has always ridiculed her. We take her role in Ramayana so lightly, when in fact she is such a crucial character.And then she has been side-lined through the rest of the epic. It is that we all have only heard about a single story of Shoorpanakha. Coming to any conclusions based on a single story is always dangerous. So, through this play it’s an effort to humanise her and make her real to people and not simply justifying her.
This play is presented in a unique style, using different techniques of Yakshagana, and a tinge of classical forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Koodiyattam, Kalarippayattu. The play will be staged at Ranga Shankara on November 21, 7.30 pm.