Art finds unique expression
RANJANI GOVIND
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It was touching to see RASA's special children enact scenes from the life of Ramana Maharishi.
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SCALING HURDLES WITH ZEST: Students of RASA
It was poignant to see parents overcome with tears of joy as their very special children performed at the packed Mylapore Fine Arts Auditorium this past weekend. Seeing the students from the RASA Special School, (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya Centre for Theatre Art and Special Needs) don different roles with confidence for `Ramanaavataaram,' one could imagine the amount of work that had gone into the production.
"After I was through with my script and music recording, it took me two months of committed teaching to shape the students and showcase their talent," said Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, founder-director, RASA rehabilitation school.
Youth festival
The dance-drama, part of RASA's first Youth Festival to celebrate the 125th Birth Year of Ramana Maharishi, depicted the life and teachings of the sage. Eighty students with varied disabilities unleashed their talent in the art.
The programme, directed by Ambika Kameshwar, was run on a soulful pre-recorded track with mellifluous tunes and crisp dialogue.
Seventeen scenes from the birth of the child Venkatraman to the Ramanaashramam days of the Maharishi in 1950 unfolded.
Certain sequences made much impact. The women's song in praise of the new-born Ramana, the exciting games that the boys play with young Venkatraman, young Ramana's first encounter with death and the subsequent fear of death that seizes him and the inclusion of Villupattu that added regional flavour were some of them.
RASA's training for special children includes theatre, art and dance.
Says Ambika: "Mobility problems for special children can be tackled with dance movements just as their speech can be improved with repeated delivery of drama dialogue."
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