ANIMATED RAMAYANA

Lalita Iyer Musings :

The smell of popcorn can do that to you. Immediate relaxation and an automatic lull of the sensations. You are entering a theatre hall afterall. And got a huge box of it free. I was a whole 27 minutes late. Which is shocking by my standards. When I go to a theatre to watch a movie, I like the curtains to open and watch all warnings, ads, documentary, et al. And complete my popcorn by the time the movie begins.

A brand new Allu Cinemas has opened up at the triangulation of the spanking newly built-up Gandipet, Narsingi and Kokapet. Infact the lights of the hall blink at you as you are on the flyover.

Told vahan chalak to break the rules and cut across still-being-constructed road. Raised enough dust to resemble a mini typhoon, while competing with other cars, buses and two ambulances (they were on parallel road).

Planning is not enough in Hyderabad. Because our scatter-brained traffic cops and their chief make and change rules with the regularity of one breathing to live. The traffic cones and traffic barricades on wheels appear all over the place. And there is no traffic cop. If there is reigning chaos on any road, it is because there is a traffic cop.

I carry a small pack of salted channa for-the-just-in-case-salt-and-protein crash. That was confiscated and the security person there claimed that the skins of the channa would litter the theatre. Firstly I would have eaten the channa with the skin, wherein lies the crispy, salty deliciousness. And secondly she should have seen the theatre after the movie.

I had come to see the Ramayana Part 1.

Literally nary a soul in India who does not know what the Ramayana is and what it means. I saw the brand new avataar of the movie in a brand new cinema hall. In Telugu. In 3D. When I came out after watching Part I, I had no feelings of bhakti, none whatsoever of having watched the birth and reign of a Purushottaman and one of the ten of the Vishnu Avatars.

And in the 27 minutes of delay, missed the entire part of Ravana and how he becomes the supreme, unbeatable ruler, having been  blessed by Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. The little that I saw was powerful though hazy. While I blamed age and my eyes, I had forgotten the 3D glasses given to us at the entrance. 

The trip up the small escalator was very exciting, till you realise that you had to climb close to 20 steps inside a dark cinema hall, with Ravana mowing down all animated creatures with his mere foot. He was deciding on keeping the steps lit or dark. Reached my seat totteringly, which was at the top and then realised that I had not visited the little girl's room. My problems always come in a stream, pardon the pun.

This was part one of Ramayana. Birth, schooling and coming of age of Rama got covered in quick succession. The powers are there with Rama, but he waits with the patience of the one-who-knows. And uses them sparingly. Is Ranbir Kapoor the right choice for Rama. He has definitely tried hard to keep that arrogant snigger at bay. And I did not care for him much as the dignified, much collected and always right Rama.

Was Sita the right choice? A clear no! Sai Pallavi looks tired, played out. I find her extremely tiresome in a grating kind of way. While sprightly on her feet, she got on my nerves.

Ravana is Yash of KGF fame. He has a simpler role to play! Yash is right there, in your face and yet there is a dignity about him. He knows he has a powerful role and fills it.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana run across forest floors like nimble deers and climb trees with the ease of an athlete. And 3D has that affect on you. And while Rama and Lakshmana and Sita are merely killing the demons, gosh! There are so many killings.

Even if you look at this as a mere film, which Jatayu will not let you, one cannot forget the countless prayers.

Personally, Krishna avataram is any day more exciting.

-Lalita Iyer 

Senior Journalist