Play name: EnchantmentGenre: BiographyCast: Yohan Chacko, Aarabi Veeraraghavan, Anjana Anand, G NarendraDirector: Gowri RamnarayanDuration: 1 hour 30 minutesLanguage: EnglishRating: 3.5 out of 5Review: One might enter Enchantment expecting to learn about the life and achievements of sitar maestro Pt Ravi Shankar. But while his global legacy is well documented, what often remains less explored is the man behind it, with his doubts, regrets and struggles. Written and directed by Gowri Ramnarayan, Enchantment is an immersive portrayal of the inner world of Ravi Shankar with a blend of live dance and music by Bombay Jayashri, Aditya Prakash and Vignesh Ishwar.Yohan Chacko, as Ravi Shankar, is immaculate. He captures the maestro’s mannerisms, body language, accent, humour, wit and emotional shifts with remarkable ease. His portrayal is restrained yet expressive, allowing the character’s vulnerabilities to emerge without becoming overly dramatic. Aarabi Veeraraghavan makes for a compelling narrator, guiding the audience through the different phases of the musician’s life. Anjana Anand and G Narendra contribute through movement, adding visual richness to the production, while the music and dance lend it much of its charm.While the play leaves certain phases of his life lightly explored, Gowri’s writing succeeds in creating a textured portrait. The play’s greatest strength lies in its ability to make a musical legend feel human, allowing the audience to look beyond his global achievements and glimpse the person who lived through them.Should you watch it?Watch it for an immersive blend of theatre, music and dance, and for a thoughtful glimpse into the life of one of India’s most loved musical legends.
