Tales from the Ramayana are all too familiar, but what is the Ramayana? Is it the story of a dutiful prince in exile, or the story of an epic war between good and evil? What is it about the Ramayana that continues to capture the imagination of millions over the centuries?
"Ramanaya" is an exploration of this very question, an effort to piece together the 'in-between' spaces of myth and reality. It draws from the revered epic, aiming to create a visual narrative that follows the movement of the story.
This production is a result of a conversation that began in 2013 between Sandbox Collective and Performer/Choreographer Felix Mathias Ott, who was subsequently a bangaloREsident. The project has been continually supported by the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan.
World Premiere @ Ranga Shankara
About the show:
Ramanaya is a playful approach to the foundational Hindu story of the Ramayana. We find an entry point into this well-known and beloved story through a multi-dimensional map, created from recycled junk materials and found debris. This mind map becomes a playground where we can think about the infinite scenarios the Ramayana holds within itself.
Two story tellers enter the map and get carried away by the force of what unfolds. Slowly, the map expands and becomes more complex -- what the story tellers are constructing takes them further and deeper into the unending stream of mythology. As they are carried away by the stream, their journey shows them different perspectives on an ancient tale. In this surreal world, the epic reveals itself in new and unexpected ways.
The spectators are part of this journey. The performers invite them to enter the surreal world and share their discoveries. Perhaps the spectators will find answers to their own questions as they travel with the performers.
About the director:
Felix Mathias Ott was born in 1983 in Reutlingen, Germany, and is currently based in Berlin. He studied Contemporary Dance, Context, Choreography at HZT Berlin. He has worked on many international projects, and his work is also supported by the City of Berlin and the Goethe-Institut. Ott's works have had a particular focus on the interplay of mythology and the 'reality' we see around us. This was particularly true of his previous work - The Odyssey Complex which we presented at the 2013 edition of the Attakkalari India Biennial. Some of his other works include An Iliad, M.A.R.S, and M.O.N.D.
About the performers:
Vinod Ravindran is a theatre actor and director based in Bangalore, India and has been working in the field of theatre for over 15 years. As an actor he has worked with directors like Atul Kumar, Abhishek Majumdar, Ajay Krishnan, Kirtana Kumar and B. Jayashree. His recent directorial ventures include How Cow Now Cow (for children) and Somewhat Like a Balloon. He has performed across India and worked with various theatre and dance companies. His special interests are in the field of devised theatre. His most recent foray includes writing a play that was long listed for a national theatre competition.
Puja Sarup is an award-winning actor based in Mumbai, India. She has worked extensively with some of the biggest names in Indian theatre including Sunil Shanbag, Rehaan Engineer and Rajat Kapoor, among others. She also heads a theatre company titled Patchworks Ensemble, that works with devised theatre. Puja's recent work as an actor includes the award-winning Hamlet The Clown Prince directed by Rajat Kapoor and The Gentlemen's Club, a pioneering piece of work on drag kings. Puja studied clowning and physical theatre at Helikos Scuola Internatzionale in Florence, and has worked for a short period with Footsbarn Travelling Theatre Company in France.
About the team:
Benjamin Brix is a video artist, film editor and cameraman. In the past, he has worked as a stone sculptor, and has studied visual communication and product design. He has worked with performers, artists and film makers from various countries, as both installation artist, and also on collaborative film making projects. Brix has a long-standing working relationship with Felix Ott, with whom he collaborated on The Odyssey Project, a much-celebrated work that travelled to Bangalore in 2013.
Nikhil Nagaraj is a sound designer and musician, working with theatre and dance productions. Through the use of custom-made software he designs sound effects, contemporary electronic music, and works with binaural sound, ambisonics and electro-acoustic sound research. He is the chief sound supervisor at a recording studio in Bangalore.
Credits:
Director/Choreographer: Felix Mathias Ott
Performers: Puja Sarup and Vinod Ravindran
Video Artist: Benjamin Brix
Sound Design: Nikhil Nagaraj
Production Manager: Bharavi
Production Assistance: Deepankar Pai
Lighting design: Felix Mathias Ott and Bharavi
Produced by: Sandbox Collective
This production is supported by the International Co-Production Fund of the Goethe-Institut.
