With layers of makeup on their faces and heavily kohled eyes, students from Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh are enacting characters from the Ramayana at different Ramlilas across Noida and Greater Noida . Juggling between studies and acting, these students are making their presence felt in some of the biggest Ramlila performances in the city.Anam Khan, a BTech student, who is playing Sita in Ramlila being held in Greater Noida, is a member of a troupe from Moradabad. She says, “Everyone in my college was aware that I am playing Sita, and they were quite supportive. So, I easily got 15 days leave to participate in Ramlila.”What about missing out on studies? Anam says that her friends take down notes for her, so she doesn’t miss out much. The troupe usually starts practising a month in advance. “On weekdays, I go for rehearsals after my classes are over, and on weekends, we usually practise throughout the day,” she says. Anam, who has been performing in Ramlila since she was two, tells us, “As a kid, I used to play a young Sita, when she is born. After that, I have played multiple roles. Last year, I even played Shurpanakha , Raavan’s sister. This is the first time I am playing Sita, and I am very excited.”One for the camera: Veeru, Shivani and Rohit catching up backstageAnurag Thakur, 23, a resident of Ayodhya , who is pursuing MA in Ayurveda, takes a break every year to perform at Ramlila in Greater Noida. He says, “I have been coming here for the past 10 years. I feel very attached to the character of Lord Ram as I hail from Ayodhya.”Umesh Pant, 24, who is playing a darbari in a Ramlila at Sector 62, is pursuing BA from Moradabad. He is also preparing for SSC exams along with three of his friends, who are playing different characters. He says, “We have been participating in Ramlila since we were kids. We have grown up performing different characters. Now, our parents want us to have a better career. However, we will continue to take part in Ramlila.” Anurag Thakur plays a darbari in Greater Noida’s RamlilaMost of the group dance performers in Ramlila are aged between 15 and 20 years. Riya Pandey, 18, a BBA student, has been selected for a group dance. She says, “This is the first time I am performing. I used to go for dance lessons near my house and now I have been selected to perform at the Ramlila being held at Sector 62. I’m so excited about it.”Sweety, who plays Sita in Sector 46, is pursuing MA in music and has been a part of Ramlila for the past eight years. “Ramlila gives me a platform to perform and pursue my passion in music. I have taken 10 days leave from college to be here. Performing in Ramlila is one of the happiest moments of my life. I have also done backstage commentary and singing over the years, but this year, I have been chosen to play the role of Sita,” she says, adding, “I will add this experience to my CV. It will help me grow in my singing career.”Jignesh Bharadwaj and Nikhil Kapoor, who are playing Ram and Lakshman, respectively, are BPharma students at a Greater Noida college. For them, performing in Ramlila is a way to get noticed and land a modelling or an acting job. “This is the first time I auditioned for the role of Lord Ram and got selected. It seems that God wants me to be in this line of work. Performing in Ramlila will definitely add to my skills and enhance my CV, too,” says Jignesh.God Tussi Great HoPulkit Dubey, 19, who plays a rakshas at a Ramlila in Greater Noida, says, “We don’t get much free time since we practise throughout the day and our performance usually begins around 8.30pm and wraps up by 11.30pm. However, on Dusshera, we take some time out and go to malls and street food joints in Sector 18 and Brahmaputra Market.” Rakhi Jha, who plays Sita’s friend in Sector 62’s Ramlila, adds, “Every year, there is something new to explore in Noida. We love going to malls as we don’t have such grand ones in our hometown, Moradabad.”Apart from exploring the city in their free time, the performers play pranks, click selfies and crack jokes with their co-actors. Pooja Sirohi, 18, a group dance performer, says, “While getting ready, or in between when we have some spare time, we crack jokes, pull each other’s leg and play pranks. Our director keeps scolding us and it feels like we are back in college.”

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