{"product_id":"book-ha9k","title":"The Mahabharata and The Ramayana","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFull-cast dramatised retellings of the two most important epic Sanskrit poems of ancient India\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe\u003ci\u003e Mahabharata\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eRamayana\u003c\/i\u003e are literary classics, the longest epic poems in world literature, as significant as the Bible, the Qu'ran and the works of Shakespeare. Estimated to have been composed over a period of time around the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, they encompass some of the greatest stories ever told - tales of the deeds of gods and men, and the eternal battle between good and evil. Included here are full-cast BBC Radio adaptations of both, directed by award-winning producer Claire Grove and with original music by acclaimed composer Niraj Chag.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eViewed from the perspective of one of the central characters, Yudhishtra, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Mahabharata\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e recounts the struggles of a divided family as they fight over their inheritance and destroy the very thing they seek most - a peaceful and harmonious land. Exiled for 13 years, Yudhishtra knows his cousin will never give up the throne. War is inevitable - but which side will Krishna be on? \u003cb\u003ePaul Battacharjee, Nitin Ganatra\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eRaad Rawi \u003c\/b\u003estar in this intimate, accessible reimagining by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the world's most popular love stories, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRamayana\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e centres around the separation and reunion of Rama and Sita. When Sita first glimpses the beautiful Prince Rama, she determines to marry him or die. She wins his heart - but his stepmother's plot sees him banished from his position as heir to the throne. Exiled, he retreats to the forest, where Sita is abducted by a ruthless warlord. Rama enlists the help of an army of monkeys to get her back - but has she betrayed him with the evil ruler of Lanka? \u003cb\u003eManjinder Virk \u003c\/b\u003estars as Sita, with \u003cb\u003eLloyd Thomas\u003c\/b\u003e as Rama in Amber Lone's distinctive modern version of the ancient legend.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included is the 5-part series \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLet's Talk About Rama and Sita\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, in which award-winning poet and broadcaster Daljit Nagra takes stories from \u003ci\u003eThe Ramayana\u003c\/i\u003e into his community and finds the ancient tales alive with contemporary Asian dilemmas. Are Rama and Sita useful role models for men and women nowadays? How is the duo's relationship relevant to marriage today? And what lessons can the Indian epic teach us about loyalty and betrayal?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduced and directed by Claire Grove\u003cbr\u003eMusic composed by Niraj Chag\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Mahabharata\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYudhishtra - Paul Bhattacharjee\u003cbr\u003eKrishna - Nitln Ganatra\u003cbr\u003eBhishma - Raad Rawi\u003cbr\u003eDhirtrashtra - Sam Dale\u003cbr\u003eDuryodhana - Zubln Varla\u003cbr\u003eArjuna - Paul Bazely\u003cbr\u003eBhima - Danny Sapani\u003cbr\u003eDraupadi - Sasha Behar\u003cbr\u003eGandhari - Sudha Buchar\u003cbr\u003eKunti - Indira Joshi\u003cbr\u003eShakuni - Jude Akuwudike\u003cbr\u003eUttara - Saikat Ahamed\u003cbr\u003eDramatised by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-18 February 2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Ramayana\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSita - Manjinder Virk\u003cbr\u003eRama - Lloyd Thomas\u003cbr\u003eLakshman - Adeel Aktar\u003cbr\u003eRavan - Paul Bhattacharjee\u003cbr\u003eSurparnaka - Sasha Behar\u003cbr\u003eDasarath\/Sugreeva - Jude Akuwudike\u003cbr\u003eSister\/Mandodari - Deeivya Meir\u003cbr\u003eBharat - Saikat Ahamed\u003cbr\u003eHanuman - Kulvinder Ghir\u003cbr\u003eKush - Omar Kent\u003cbr\u003eLava - Neil Reynolds\u003cbr\u003eDramatised by Amber Lone\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 October-7 November 2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLet's Talk About Rama and Sita\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresented by Daljit Nagra\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24-28 February 2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49355540463920,"sku":"BDha9k","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/ha9k-Square-cover.jpg?v=1770782317","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-ha9k","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}