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Entertainment
Ramayana, Bali style
Grace and refinement marked the Balinese presentation.
BALINESE DANCE presented by the State College for Indonesian Art of Bali, was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, at the Bharatha Kalakshetra auditorium, as part of the Rukmini Devi Arundale centenary celebrations. The gilded wooden and brass instruments with two long flags and costumed musicians made a lovely picture. It was not just the curtain but also the beautiful palm leaf decorations on the low steps of the auditorium that complemented the beauty of the Gamelan ensemble.
The troupe presented a few glimpses of Balinese dance and music before going on to the main feature of the day, the Balinese Ramayana. As the Gamelan music began, one could visualise the infinitely varied Balinese landscape. Dance, melody and the accentuated rhythm of gong, drums, cymbals together formed an indivisible whole. The delicate headgears, the silks on slender waists and simple expressions made the show an exercise in beauty and delicacy.
"Wayang Wong" is the dance drama depicting various episodes from the Ramayana. The dancers talk about how everyone in Bali knows the story of Ramayana and Mahabharatha whatever their religion may be. At Kalakshetra, the episode performed began with Rama and Sita in Dandakaranya, the golden deer episode, Sita's abduction by Ravana, Jatayu moksha, meeting with Hanuman, Hanuman's journey to Alengka to find Sita, the killing of Ravana, rescuing of Sita and their return to Ayodhya where Rama is crowned as King.
The drama was marked by refined and smooth dance movements of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and Trijata. Sita was infinitely refined. Rama moved with equally smooth grace. There was grace even in the movements of Ravana, Maricha and the golden deer which teased Sita , Rama and Lakshmana. The characters entered without any choreographic preliminaries. The directness in approach made "Wayang Wong" one of the most dramatic and easily understandable dance dramas.
Most dramatic were the costumes. Jatayu in a mask with bulging eyes, large beak and golden stripes on his body, a tail of feathers made from paper and painted leather wings in his hands made a fine spectacle.
Hanuman in a white costume stole hearts. The Indian epic had naturally taken on a great deal of local colouring. There was a lady in the audience who kept talking about how Ravana should never touch Sita as he was a noble man, forgetting that there are many variations in the Ramayana even in India.
It was a beautiful offering to the memory of Rukmini Devi.
V.R. DEVIKA
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