Click to play videoPoonch: The border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir has a reason to celebrate.
After more than 10 years, Ramleelas will be staged here.
The stage is lit once again and it's the come-back of art, artists and actors like Arun Kapoor get ready for a familiar role-play.
Kapoor had last played Dashratth in 1998, the year when militancy reached its peak in this border district of Poonch and Ramleelas were then altogether suspended.
Director, Rama Dramatic Club Bhushan Bhalla says, " 1998 ke andhar yeh bandh huye militancy ka zor hone laga. Humne dar lag gaya, aisa na ho mob aiktha. koi jaani maali nuksaan pauch jaaye” (In 1998 militancy level was quite high. There threats and we were scared that the gathering could be attacked. To avoid any mishap we had decided to suspended Ramleelas).
Kapoor says, “Paar border e Pakistans e gola baari hoti thi.yahan Geeta bhawan main shell girte the” (During those days, firing from the Pakistani side would also take place. In fact shells would fall right next to the Geeta Bhawan which was the venue for the Rameela.
This year, however, the Rama Dramatic Club here decided to recreate the magic.
A troupe of 45 artists was put together.The old artists brushed up their memory and the new ones their skills.
Kapoor says, “Dus saal humne bhi changes aa gaye stamina nahin raha, younger generation ko aagae laye, unko yeh stage den” (In the last 10 years we have also changed as actors. We have lost our stamina and now would slowly train the young artists).
For the audience who had waited for far too long, it’s a sign of peace and also a tradition which finally completes the Navratra celebrations.
Audience Raj Dutta says, “Without Ramleela it was just like a body without soul. Logon ke andhar kitna josh aur kharasoh hai” (The applause signifies how much people here are appreciating the come back. They are quite happy).
The Ramleela stage is not only entertainment but a binding factor for thousands of people in this border district.
The stage is also statement that finally people have overcome fear and are ready to celebrate.
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