The Indian Panorama

Tag: Ramaavan

  • Times Square Durga Utsav Celebrations-Aesthetics and Reverence Enthuse the Audience

    Sumit Roy & Band from Kolkata, India and Rimli Roy and Surati charm with Spectacular performances

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Times Square Durga Utsav Association brought the vibrancy of Indian culture to the crossroads of the world with a spectacular Durga Utsav celebration held on October 2, 2025 at Father Duffy Square, Times Square. The event drew an enthusiastic and diverse crowd, uniting communities through music, dance, and storytelling in honor of the Goddess Durga, on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja and Navratri.

    Sumit Roy & Band (from Kolkata) energized audiences with a mix of Agomoni, Bangla Folk, Pop, and Fusion, including his viral hit Hilsa Fish

    Sumit Roy & Band (from Kolkata) energized audiences with a mix of Agomoni, Bangla Folk, Pop, and Fusion, including his viral hit Hilsa Fish. The set opened with Sonia on vocals performing Roy’s original Agomoni, and included a unique Charkha folk piece. At one point, Roy stepped offstage to join the crowd as they danced to his rhythmic compositions.

    Rimli Roy & Surati for Performing Arts presented Okal Bodhon, a dance-theatre excerpt from the acclaimed off-Broadway musical Ramaavan. Rooted in the story of Lord Rama invoking Goddess Durga before his battle with Ravana, Okal Bodhon highlighted themes of courage, righteousness, and devotion, performed with powerful choreography and narration.

    Rimli Roy & Surati for Performing Arts presented Okal Bodhon, a dance-theatre excerpt from the acclaimed off-Broadway musical Ramaavan

    Surati for Performing Arts holds a deeply personal legacy in its very name – It was named after Founder & Artistic Director Rimli Roy’s parents, Sumit and Arati Roy, whose love for the arts continues to inspire her work. Her father, Sumit Roy, also composed original music for Ramaavan – A Musical, which was performed at Times Square Durga Utsav 2025, symbolizing the powerful intergenerational legacy at Surati’s core.

    Sumit Roy & Band (from Kolkata) energized audiences with a mix of Agomoni, Bangla Folk, Pop, and Fusion, including his viral hit Hilsa Fish.

    Blending Indian classical, folk, and contemporary dance with Western theatre, Surati’s ensemble brought mythology to life in Times Square. Choreographed by Rimli Roy with narration by Priyanjali Sen, the cast — including Paulina Yeung (Broadway’s King & I), Harsha Harikumar, Jonathan Power, Madison Halla, Kijana Lewis, Vidhya Dinesh, Reba Browne, and Rimli Roy — transformed the square into a stage of storytelling and reverence. The audience was especially captivated by Yeung’s operatic rendition of Lascia Ch’io Pianga, accompanied by dancers Harsha Harikumar and Kijana Lewis.

    “Times Square became a canvas for cultural exchange and artistic excellence,” said Rimli Roy, Founder & Artistic Director of Surati. “It was inspiring to share Okal Bodhon on the occasion of Durga Puja and Navratri — moments that remind us of the enduring power of art, storytelling, and community.”

    Rimli Roy & Surati for Performing Arts presented Okal Bodhon, a dance-theatre excerpt from the acclaimed off-Broadway musical Ramaavan.

    Ramaavan-A Musical is an original production based on the Indian epic the Ramayana that unravels the story of Diwali. Conceived, created and directed By Rimli Roy, with original music by Sumit Roy and Rajesh Roy, lyrics, verses and dialogues by Arati Roy, the musical has been staged in NY and NYC since 2018, and even toured cities in India with seven U.S artists who collaborated with artists from India invited by the Govt of India.

    The program was made possible through the support of Times Square Durga Utsav Association, ConnX SmartMS, Scient Enterprise AI, AVP Global and Surati’s generous donors and supporters, and highlighted the collaborative power of community, art, and tradition in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces.

    About Surati for Performing Arts

    Surati for Performing Arts is an award-winning Jersey City–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Rimli Roy, dedicated to educating, entertaining, and engaging communities in New Jersey and globally through the performing arts of India and their cross-cultural intersections. Surati produces world-class productions, festivals, and educational programs that celebrate diversity and inclusivity.

    Rimli and the Surati team have performed at prestigious venues including the United Nations, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Library of Congress, and NY City Hall, and have been featured in Vogue, CNN, and NBC News.

    For more information, please visit: www.suratipa.org

    Media Contact:

    Surati for Performing Arts

    📧 info@suratiinc.com | info@suratifpa.org

    📞 201-360-1553

  • Ramaavan – A Musical successfully completes its 3rd run in NYC

    Ramaavan – A Musical successfully completes its 3rd run in NYC

    NEW YORK (TIP): After successful shows in NYC in 2023, and productions in India earlier this year, Surati’s Ramaavan – A Musical returned this fall for 6 shows at the off-Broadway Cullum Theatre in New York City. Ramaavan – A Musical is an innovative dance and musical theater experience adapted from the celebrated ancient Indian epic the Ramayana, that has been loved and revered for centuries. The evolving musical has enthralled audiences of a variety of backgrounds and tastes. They have called Roy’s interpretation of the ancient epic bold, innovative and universal in appeal. The treatment crosses boundaries of race, bias and preconceived societal notions as well as of traditional genres of dance and music in retelling one of India’s greatest epics.

    Recently Surati for Performing Arts received their first grant from the NEA for Ramaavan. Founder and Artistic Director of Surati, Rimli Roy says, “We are happy that we are able to stage this production in the Fall too, which is the Diwali season since the show also unravels the story of the festival of lights.”

    Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan praised the event, stating, “It was one of the best creative events, and compliments to Ms. Rimli Roy for conceptualizing and bringing it together with a diverse group of artists. I am happy that the essence of the Ramayana was not compromised.”

    Hudson County music journalist and novelist Tris McCall shared his admiration for the production, stating, “I was particularly impressed by the quartet of Indian dancers. I loved watching what they did—it’s not a tradition I know very much about, but I thought they danced beautifully. The actress portraying the golden deer was terrific as well.”

    Carrying on the tradition, Surati will be hosting a grand Diwali celebration this weekend where they will also perform the songs of Ramaavan on November 15th at Surati Studios in Jersey City. The Ramaavan cast will be present at this event.

    Conceptualized, written and directed by Rimli Roy, with music by Sumit and Rajesh Roy, lyrics, verses and dialogues by Arati Roy, Lighting design by Jacob Smith
    the cast of Ramaavan includes Jonathan Power, Madison Halla, August Williams, Tanner Hodson, Jeremiah Williams, Umang Sawhney, Persephone Zymos, Chelsea Hart, Hitanshi Patel, Harsha Harikumar, Mihika Keran, Sanika Pophale, Fiona Smith, Kijana Lewis, and Mari Takayama.

    Donors and sponsors include the Consulate General of India in New York, Dance NYC, National Endowment for the Arts, Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund, New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund, Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs, New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, Board Members of IAAC Anil Bansal and Rajeev Kaul and other individual donors and patrons.