(Left) Aayush Jerath, the child Hanuman. (Photo: Surekha Kishore)
The musical drama Rama Bhakta Hanuman was a
truly mesmerizing show directed by Syam Yellamaraju
at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta on December 3, 2016,
in front of a houseful audience that was left hypnotized
by this extraordinary production. This first show
sponsored by Chinmaya Mission of Atlanta was enacted
entirely in Sanskrit, a probable first in the USA.
The 5 scenes of clever scripting depicted common
stories, yet also highlighted interesting less known
tidbits. Stories included how Hanuman was a gifted
child and the extraordinary boons he got from the
Gods, and answered popular questions of why Hanuman
didn’t bring Sita back or kill Ravan, why people
say “Ram” when one yawns, etc. Special scenes included
interaction between Narada Muni, Shani Dev,
and Hanuman, where Shani’s power and arrogance is
no match for Hanuman’s Rama bhakti. Another special
scene: after being told by Sita that application of sindhur
in her hair parting would earn Rama’s well-being,
Hanuman, risking the ridicule of those around him,
proceeded to cover his whole body with sindhur so that
his Lord Rama’s well-being would multiply manifold.
(Left) Rama and Sita (seated), Hanuman (right). (Photo: Surekha Kishore)
The audience was transported to the times when
everyone spoke the divine language of Sanskrit. Actors
delivered complex lines in Sanskrit with such
perfect expressions and intonations that many in the
audience did not have to read the English subtitles on
the screen to understand the stories. Though the show
was focused on Hanuman, it provided equal opportunities
for all the artists to excel and they did! The cast
had 15 members from all walks of life and included
5-year-old to senior citizens. Special mention goes to
Aayush Jerath, the child Hanuman, who had such an
endearing stage presence.
(Left) Director Syam Yellamaraju and composer Srinivasa Kishore. (Photo: Surekha Kishore)
The unparalleled acting was supported by an extremely
talented 13-member live orchestra for background
score and lead songs, all in Sanskrit. Composer
and conductor Srini Kishore dedicatedly traveled from
Tallahassee, Florida each week for several months
to orchestrate the event. As he eloquently described,
he started the ripple in Florida, which created waves
that enveloped his amazingly talented group of musicians
in Atlanta resulting in a tsunami of melody and
rhythm that drowned the temple hall for 2 hours leaving
the audience breathless. “Indian classical music is
divine; with Lord in our hearts, only divinity can flow
through us,” said Srini Kishore. The 45-minute preshow
concert of Carnatic classical renditions by Subhashini
Krishnamurthy and several bhajans by the team took
the mind away from the traffic problems and set the
devotional mood right.
The production support team provided meticulous
back drops, stage props, costumes, and make up to the
finest detail. Production coordinator Lakshmi Vedala
said, “The entire team is focused on doing a good job.
When we serve with devotion nothing will go wrong.”
The settings transported the audience to a different
era, and the lag time between scenes was ably minimized.
Unlike our regular events, the show started on
the dot and ended on the dot, as advertised, a feat in
itself. Except for the location of the subtitles, where
one had to switch between the wall and the stage, the
coordination was ably executed.
Community elders Acharya Raghu and Dr. Majmudar
noted that Hanuman is the embodiment of
devotion. Due to the intensity of his selfless bhakti, a
devotee like Hanuman became a
god himself. Dr. Majmudar said,
“Hanuman was a great leader, very
capable in all aspects; however, he
was also a devotee at the feet of the
Lord Rama. That is a reminder in
humility for us all.”
At the end, cast and crew were
given a standing ovation. The audience
included families who had
driven from Gainesville, FL, Tallahassee, FL, and Birmingham,
AL, and a couple from Washington D.C.
who, curious to watch a Sanskrit show, had changed
their plans and stayed in Atlanta especially for it. One
enthusiastic audience member suggested that the
team should go and present at each and every Chinmaya
Mission Center in the USA!
Ramachandra Hegde noted that Sanskrit, Indian
culture, and Sanatan Dharma are spread around the
world by Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.
Access to an Easy Sanskrit Online
Course and an Advanced Postal
Sanskrit Course can be found at
www.chinfo.org. For local classes on
Sanskrit taught by Acharya Raghu
ji of Chinmaya Mission Atlanta, see
www.chinmya-atlanta.com.
Website Bonus Feature
Photo Gallery: Surekha Kishore
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B54KrhnPMn4oWDBpZ0JmUU1xbXM
Chinmaya Mission Atlanta’s Rama Bhakt Hanuman team. (Photo: Neelamegam Subramanian)