However it has been frustrating to see the character that has its own prominence in each version of Ramayan, lose its essence in the makers' pursuit of giving the viewers Anokha Adhyay/ Unseen Tales.
As far as Neil Bhatt's contribution to the role is, he is doing total justice to it. As was promised by him, it is seen that Lakshman's characterization is more intense than having a fierce temper. So much in appreciation of the actor whom fans have till date known to have picked characters of substance, fans take an extra step to understand the historic character he has chosen to play. This post here https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ramayan-sabke-jeevan-ka-aadhar/3297546/legends-of-prince-lakshman is a way of respect that fans have for his acquaintance in character assessment while selecting a role. Such appreciation certainly outdoes certain other actors' large fan following for their "cuteness" and "hawtness".
In spite of having a good actor to play the character with nuanced subtlety, in spite of the richness of the character Lakshman, who plays a major and substantial role in taking Ramayan forward, when poets and authors quote that "Without Lakshman, ram's journey is incomplete", the essence of this character has been largely decimated.
While it was refreshing to watch the makers handle Lakshman and Urmila's story, it is disappointing to repeatedly watch Lakshman's scenes with other characters of Ramayan being swathed through. Lakshman and Parasuram's scene is a beautiful segment in Ramayan. However, Lakshman's caustic and sarcastic remarks were removed. Though it appears good to watch Lakshman submitting to Ram's one touch or demand, subduing a character's essence is uncalled for. The disappointment is more because the actor could have excelled in portraying that version. When RCM on which the show is largely or loosely based supports such a characterization of Lakshman, why to avoid showing it.
In different versions of Ramayan, when Shri Ram is exiled, Lakshman's conversation with Mata Kausalya, his own mother Sumitra holds importance. When Lakshman's fierce anger on Dasharath for his promise and his subsequent fury on Kaikeyi is significantly described in various versions, why was it not shown on the show.
The one scene I was eager to watch was the Lakshman-Guha conversation. This finds a poetic description with beautiful interplay of words in Kamba Ramayan, also in RCM which highlights their conversation as Shri Lakshman Gita which is considered to be the basis of Gitopadesa by Shri Krishna to Arjuna, as well as in Valmiki Ramayan, and was also featured in Ramanand Sagar's version of Ramayan. This conversation has its own importance that Lakshman-Guha conversation is one of the scripts enacted in school mono-acting skits.
With an experienced actor capable of bona fide acting playing Lakshman, aided by the impactful significance of such a scene in most versions of Ramayan, this exclusion is unreasonable. To cite an example, even in the scene where there is the short exchange of conversation between Lakshman and Guha, a viewer cannot fail to notice the subtle distinction of Lakshman's softness in look when he lowers his eyes when Guha mentions about him having left his "bharya", his wife for serving his brother. That was probably a restrained yet powerful way of registering/remembering her dedication in his thoughts with fondness. The subtlety of emotion is unmistakable. When one has an actor par excellence why to cut down on powerful scenes such as Lakshman-Guha conversation?? It's highly illogical to have cut down on their conversation scene.
Decimating Lakshman's essence in Ramayan seems disappointing when one is aware of the richness of the character in Ramayan and the talent of the actor playing the role.
With regressive shows flooding the television screen and to some of us who have fastened our hopes on a promising artiste, I am sure this is our EXILE period.
Anyone having their own dissatisfaction about Lakshman's characterization, do pen it down here'..
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