Twist of fate: Man playing Ravana drops dead during killing sequence in MP Ramlila

Special Correspondent

NewBits.in

Bhopal: In what could be termed as quirk of fate, a 55-year-old man playing the part of Ravana dropped dead during the last sequence of Ramlila when Prince Rama is supposed to kill the mythical demon king by hitting him with arrow.

The incident occurred in Bijoura village of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh late on Sunday night. Last rites of Hariram Lodhi, the deceased was held at the village on Monday in atmosphere of gloom. 

Doctors said Lodhi had suffered a heart attack on stage. No.police.complaint has been filed.

Hariram Lodhi had been playing the part of Ravana in local Ramlila troupe for some years now. Sunday night was the last day of ten-day Ramlila sequence and the highlight was the high-octane Ravana-Vadh (killing of Ravana) act at the end.

Sources said that according to script, Yashwantraj Tiwari, who was playing Prince Rama was to shoot arrow at Tiwari who was fall down but rise again laughing the famous demonic laugh. This sequence was to be repeated three to four times before Ravana would be finally ‘slayed’ by Rama.

However, things took turn during the act in Bijoura (Picchore block). As Rama shot the first arrow at Ravana, Lodhi fell down but did not get up as scripted. The actors and the backstage people waited for sometime before rushing to check Lodhi.

They found the man unconscious and he was rushed to hospital. Alas, he was declared dead, apparently due to heart attack,  giving a tragic fateful turn to the drama.

(Representational photo courtesy: rediff.com)