Ramlila: Ramlila 2023: Meet MBA, the event manager and astrologer behind this year’s iconic performance

Noida: Senior Manager in Life Sciences RPG (RPGLS), Anuj Saxena will be playing one of the more challenging yet colorful roles of her life – the role of Lord Ram in Ramlila organized by Shri Ram Mitra Mandal Ramlila Committee (SRMM) in Sector 62. An MBA graduate from Pune, Saxena, 34, hails from Moradabad and has been playing the role of Ram in various Ramlilas for the past 16 years, including the Ramlila Parade Ground Red Fort in Delhi.
Saxena has been actively involved in cultural programs since his school days and even won the Abdul Kalam Scout Award in 2005. “I became interested in theater arts and music very early. Even when I was busy after taking up the job, I felt that I was longing to participate in cultural programs, so when the opportunity to play Rama came up, I jumped at it,” says Saxena, adding that his senior colleagues at work were also very supportive of his endeavors and they even granted him leave so he could do it. he could fully use his potential.
Saxena’s family, consisting of his mother, a retired lecturer, father, lawyer, wife and their 3-year-old daughter, are proud of him for playing this role. He proudly declares that even Prime Minister Modi witnessed his performance at the Ramlila parade ground at the Red Fort.
Like him, Rohit Saini (33), who works as a technician in the Indian Railways, will transform into Lakshman on Thursday. A graduate of Moradabad Hindu College, Saini has played many roles in his 17 years with Ramlilas including Parashuram, Angad, Bharat and Shatrughan.
Saini’s convincing acting skills and his calm demeanor attract viewers towards him. “People touch my feet and treat me like a god,” he says, adding that his mother was also moved when she saw him play Lakshman last year for the first time in 17 years.
Event organizer Pari Sharma (27) will play the role of Sita, and astrologer Yash Pandey will play the role of Hanuman.
Meanwhile, Moradabad Municipal Councilor Tushar Singh will replace Ravan with Navratri. While his family tries to take care of it at home, the 5-foot-11 councilor believes it’s an important role and is well-built for it.
“He is a very important character. At home, my family often teases me. My wife tells my 6-year-old son, “beta, ab tere papa Ravan banney jaa rahey hain, dekho Ravan jaisi harkat karney lagey hain (Your father will play Ravan soon and he has already started behaving like it). Neighbors who get to know my role come to my house and express their disapproval, but when they see my performance, they all praise me,” Singh told TOI.
Similarly, Shatrughan is played by Deepak Chaudhary, a cyber security engineer and a resident of Rajasthan, Santosh Arya, a medical store operator and a resident of Kashipur Uttarakhand plays the role of Kumbhakaran and choreographer Vishal Rajput, a resident of Delhi, plays the role of Meghnath. Dasharatha will be played by Sanjay Sharma, who works in the advertising industry, while Bali will be played by intermediate student Dinesh Rajput.
At the premises of Shri Ramlila Committee (SRC) No. 4 in City Park, Greater Noidaaudience will see another Ram in the house of Amit Sharma from Moradabad. The role of Ravan will be played by the 170 cm tall owner of a transport company, Pradeep Pawar (49).
Father of two daughters and husband of a wife who works on the railway. Pawar has been playing the role for 11 years in various locations such as Kidwai Nagar in Delhi and Janakpuri in Indore and now in Greater Noida.
He says that while playing Ravan, he is completely immersed in the role. “My favorite scene is the one where Ravan and Angad interact and my favorite dialogue is Sita. ‘Sitey, suna hai ki tum marrna chahti ho, par tumharey liye toh yamdoot bhi meri marzi ke bina nahi ayenge’ (Sita, I heard you want to die…but even the god of death cannot enter here without my permission),’ says Pawar .
Sanatan Dharm Ramlila at Noida Stadium is the oldest stadium in the city and artistes from Moradabad will also perform there. Ghantaghar is the oldest in Ghaziabad.
These artistes are just a handful of over 100 performers from Moradabad, Delhi and Rajasthan who will swap roles for Ramlila performances across the district. The Ramlila performance by Sullamal Ramlila organized at Ghantaghar in Ghaziabad celebrates its 124th anniversary this season. The Adarsha Ramlila Samiti, Kavi Nagar performance is also one of the oldest – it was held for the 48th time this year.
According to Vijendra Singh Arya, general secretary, SRC, Greater Noida, the celebrations will feature performances by children from over 30 schools on October 12. Apart from these performances, visitors will also be able to enjoy local dishes such as Vel Jayanti Kelly’s Chaat and Gurjar Thali.
SRC members said security of the program was ensured and CCTV cameras, guards and fire brigade were installed.
“The Ramlila will be displayed at 7 p.m. from October 2 to 13 at C Block in Sector 62. Former Union Minister and MP Mahesh Sharma and Noida MLA Pankaj Singh will be present on the occasion,” said Munna Kumar Sharma, general secretary, SRMM . Sector 62, Noida.
This year the Kavi Nagar Adarsh Nagar Ramlila will have its 48th edition. For the first time, artists from the Indian Revival Group from Delhi will perform at Ramlila. They have previously performed at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Mandi House and abroad.
Also, Sullamal Ramlila at Ghantaghar in Ghaziabad is the oldest Ramlila in the district. This year will be its 127th edition.