Redemption of the Cursed

What is the secret behind Raavan's 11th head?

- Shweta Desai

DID Raavan really have 11 heads? Popularly regarded in most parts of India as a demon god with 10 heads, Kannadiga artiste Surya Rao chooses the untold tale of Raavan's 11th head, to lead the opening sequence of his enthralling multimedia format dance-drama production 'Ravana: The Untold Story of the Eleventh Head'.

Inspired by the 12th-century Kamba Ramayanam by Tamil poet Kamban, Valmiki's Ramayana and Shashi Raj Kavoor's play Ekadashanana, this performance boldly challenges the traditional portrayal of Raavan. It provokes curiosity about the mysterious 11th head of this multifaceted figure while also extolling the protagonist's virtues.

But is there really an untold story about Raavan's 11th head, concealed in lesser-known scriptures or obscure folk tales? The audience in a tony, suburban Mumbai theatre on a rainy Sunday evening eagerly awaits with bated breath, for an onstage revelation to this almost mystical question.

In the solo 40-minute act blended with elements from traditional dance forms, namely Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and Yakshagana, Rao plays the protagonist, Raavan, spending his last night on earth after an embittered slugfest on the battlefield with Rama. Standing at the gates of Vaikuntha, Raavan contemplates the defining moments of his life before embarking on to his final avatar. Conflicting voices echo in his mind: one urges him to fight Ram, another advocates surrendering for a chance at swarga loka (heaven), while a third shames him for the bloodshed of his own kin. Amidst this din, he reflects on the years he has spent on Earth.