Ashutosh Rana’s Hamare Ram wins hearts 12-day ‘Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsava - 2025’ off to a grand start
08 Nov 2025 08:08:22
Staff Reporter :
Staging of thought-provoking theatrical presentation — ‘Hamare Ram’ — led by acclaimed actor Ashutosh Rana hogged the limelight on the opening day of the 12-day ‘Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav 2025’, on a chilly Friday evening. Presented before a packed audience at Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education ground, the mega play re-imagined the epic Ramayana through a contemporary lens of introspection, duty, and human emotion.
The narrative of the much-anticipated play opened with a tranquil scene from Ayodhya, setting the stage for the moral and emotional dilemmas that follow. As Lord Ram and Sita reflected on destiny and sacrifice, the story shifted to Lanka, where Ravan, brought to life with commanding intensity by Ashutosh Rana, stood amid blazing ritual fires questioning the very nature of knowledge
and pride.Rana’s performance, marked by powerful dialogue delivery and deep emotional restraint, blurred the boundaries between virtue and vanity.
The recitation of ‘Shivtandav Strotra’ in powerful voice of Rana and the image of dancing Shiv mesmerised the audience present on the opening night of the Mahotsava.
In the climactic act, Ram’s symbolic gesture of extending his hand to Ravana encapsulated the play’s core message, that Ram and Ravana both dwell within the human spirit. The play’s visual grandeur, enhanced by live music, digital projections, and choreographed movement, made it an unforgetable experience for the the citizens present on the opening night.
Ashutosh Rana was aptly supported by Rahul Bhuchar (Ram), Tarun Khanna (Shiv); Harleen Kaur Lekhi (Sita); Danish Akhtar (Hanuman), Bhanu Pratap Singh (Laxman), Sachin Joshi (Valmiki), and Karan Sharma (Suryadev).
Presented from the perspective of the Sun God, ‘Hamare Ram’ takes the audience through the eternal journey of Lord Ram and Sita, their divine love, the trial by fire, and the triumph over Ravan.
The play also reveals lesser-known aspects of the Ramayana, including Ravan imparting wisdom to Lakshman and the untold story of Shurpanakha. Remarkably, the production portrays Ravan not merely as an antagonist but as a profound philosopher, highlighting his depth of knowledge.