RAM YUG - V View Reviews #17


The series is based on an adaptation of the Epic Ramayana. It's, a mythological saga written by sage Valmiki. The storyline is very simple. It narrates the life of Sri Ram, the legendary prince of Ayodhya. His youth, his marriage to Sita, then their exile for fourteen years, there Sita being kidnapped by the king of Lanka Ravana, then war and finally Sri Ram's victory over Ravana. It's a victory of light over darkness, good over evil. It's the Golden age of all mankind. This is an epic more than a story. It's all about how to follow the path of Dharma. According to some Ram is our soul and Sita is our heart. Ravan is our mind that steals our heart from our soul. Thus there are thousands of interpretations. A tale as old as time itself. It has been constantly telecasted with different names and different protagonist. But the old Ramayana that was telecasted in 1986 on Doordarshan is still a favourite. For the audience of age 40s_50s, the closest reference point is therefore this Ramayana. It was re telecasted amid the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the comparison became inevitable.
The new attempt is termed Ram Yug. It has been abridged into an eight-episode show. Each episode highlights one theme. Prem, Karma, Dhokha, Dharma, Vachan, Sangarsh, Yudh and Saaransh.  So it proceeds in a non-linear manner. Most of the connecting stories are told as a flashback, for example, Sita swamver, Sita's kidnap, Kaikeyi's demand etc. This series is a contemporary touch to age-old Ramayana. It is brief and concise. Language is simple and easy for youngsters to relate to in today's time. Next is songs n lyrics. The chant of The Hanuman Chalisa by Amitabh Bachhan add spirituality that captures the essence of the Ramayana.
The highlight of the series lies in its technical aspects. Natural scenic beauty coupled with technological enhancement is a treat to the eyes. The forest, the seaside, the ocean, the mountains all look gorgeous.
It focused more on appearances, grandeur than essence and content. The warmth, divinity, and calmness of Ram and Sita are missing. The novel treatment does not transport us to the era at all. Especially, the haircut. It is too contemporary and without headgear on Dashrath or Ravana, the attire looks incomplete. The footwear disconnect us from episodes of Bharat's padhuka. The actors seem to be flaunting their bodies of 6 pack physique. The action sequences look clumsy. Ravana's Court appears more filmy. It also lacked lustre in writing, editing and screenplay. Overall this modern version of Ramayan and its novel treatment and unique approach kills the feel of the epic altogether. The actors too couldn't justify their role. The lead actors are Diganth Manchale, Aishwarya Ojha, Akshay Dogra, Kabir Duhan Singh, Vivan Bhathena, Dilip Tahil,
 Anup Soni, Tisca Chopra etc.
Makers assume that the audience knows the story, they just give us a visual treat.
This web  series is streamed online on MX player.

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