Directed by Mukul Ahmed, Tara Studio presents 'The Demon's Revenge - The Slaying of Meghnad'. Based on Michael Madhusudan Datta's epic version of the Ramayana story in which Ravana, not Rama is the hero. The show will be accompanied by live musicians. Tara Studio will be transformed by this Bengali classic into a heroic world where gods, demons and kings grace our intimate stage. Meghnad was the much feared son of the Demon King of Lanka, Ravana. He contested gods, kings and demons with his terrifying power. Ravana had total faith in the supremacy of his son and believed that if Meghnad was fighting with him, he could never lose in battle. "I should be able to see everyone and everything but no one should be able to see me. I should be able to kill whoever I please," Meghnad.

Ravana's sister Surpanakha was treated cruelly by the human King Rama and his family, who were living in exile in Lanka. To get her revenge on Rama, she persuaded her brother to abduct Rama's wife, Sita, for her stunning beauty. A great war between the demons and the humans ensued. Both the humans and demons prayed to the same God, Shiva. Shiva decided to side with the humans and suddenly Meghnad's almighty power was no longer enough.

Mukul Ahmed, the director of The Demon's Revenge hopes that the production will resonate with world politics today. "It's really an anti-war play," he says. "Like the God Shiva, in the war in Afghanistan, the Americans are always siding with different factions. The play demonstrates how hard it can be to distinguish between who is in the right and who is in the wrong. It also clearly shows the futility of war. Ravana sacrifices so many of his sons and breaks the hearts of his wifes, and what for' Nothing more than greed and his lust for Sita. The audience witnesses the pain felt by wives and mothers as they wait and pray that their sons and husbands will return from battle."

The cast of five consists of two actors Dilu Hussein and Leesa Gazi, two singers Sohini Alam and Tanusree Guha and a musician Swagata Bisuas, who will be playing the Indian drums and percussion. Sohini Alam also performs in concert with Labik Kamal at Tara Studio on Wed 26 May.

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