The Makeover

8220;Dashagriva is another name for Ravana,8221; their faculty guide Anuradha Thakur is quick to point out. With Diwali not too far and the Ramleela ready to be staged soon, is that what8217;s got them to delve into Ravana8217;s life, we ask? 8220;Actually we are giving Ravana a makeover,8221; tells second year student Rashmi as she powers up a laptop to take us through a quick presentation. Just then Ravana walks in! Dressed in a rather flamboyant outfit, he trudges in with classmates Ashish and Robin to help him through. 8220;That8217;s the way we see Ravana dressed at the city8217;s oldest Ramleela staged in the Sector 17 Parade grounds each year,8221; INIFD8217;s centre manager Nimisha Gupta pitches in with more details as we eye the dress. The present design is very amateurish 8211; black outfit with golden tassles and sequins all over. This year, however, Ravana will slip into something new.

8220;I have been enacting the role for many years now. The outfit has remained the same and I was really taken by surprise when told that the students want to change it for the better,8221; admits Sunil Sharma who steps into Ravana8217;s shoes at the Sector 17 Ramleela each year.

8220;It8217;s not that we want to make him look completely out of place but we are looking to add some aspects of history to the outfit,8221; explains second year student Amanraj as he flips open a file that holds in designs and sketches defining the new look. To streamline the project, the students were given singular responsibilities like research, putting together a story board, a presentation et al. 8220;And it8217;s been such a learning experience. Did you know that Ravana excelled in 64 art forms?8221; questions Amanraj. The students also got to learn the lesser known albeit nicer aspects of Ravana8217;s personality. 8220;Like he was a huge devotee of Lord Shiva and that8217;s something we are incorporating in the new outfit,8221; adds Ashish.

Going by the research put in, the students have decided to stick to three colours. Rashmi takes us through. 8220;We are using gold to depict royalty, red for energy and black to depict him as a ruler,8221; she lists out. Also since it8217;s royalty they are dealing with, the students have decided to use equally rich fabrics like silk, tissue and velvet. 8220;To make the outfit more meaningful, the students have designed an emblem depicting Kuber to be used on the belt while the 64 art forms will be depicted on his cloak,8221; faculty guide Thakur adds. That apart there will be extensive use of dabka, aari and applique work. 8220;It8217;s a lot of work but we are really looking forward to the final result,8221; chorus the students who don8217;t want to stop just with Ravana. 8220;Given a choice we would like to make new outfits for everyone playing a part at the Ramleela,8221; they answer in unison. That8217;s Generation Y for you!