De-mystification of the epic

With parents named Ram Chandra and Ram Pyari “to whom Rama was a Reality”, it was natural for Ram Varma to come out with his own version of the ancient tale. He pares off what he considers to be “interpolations” to project his vision of Rama. Not a bad vision really. Rama is the hero, Ravana is the villain. There is no tampering with the basics. The cosmetic changes, however, are interesting.

IN TUNE WITH VALMIKI
Writers before him have tried to fill in the blanks about the domestic life of Rama and Sita. Less than half-a-century ago we had the Telugu poet, Viswanadha Satyanarayana writing about the conjugal felicity of Sita and Rama in his epic, Sri Ramayana Kalpavrukshamu. Thus, the details of a married couple in love in this book are very much in tune with Valmiki's story-line. Of the other changes, mention ought to be made of Kaikeyi using a play within the play (as in Shakespeare's Hamlet) to discover the intentions of Dasaratha in handing over the crown to Rama. Ironically, a hack named Kritinidhi writes the mischievous script for the Dushyanta story.

In Ram Varma's narration, printed in three columns, there is no poetry as such and we even get a hiccup when Dasaratha bursts out: “O God, it's all been mucked up!” It is a relief that Ram Varma has avoided the fire-ordeal and has Rama himself go to the Ashoka Vana and tell Sita of Ravana's death.

Full report here Hindu