‘Ramayana’: Harish Uthaman On The Film’s Scale, Authenticity And Playing Vibhishana

Actor Harish Uthaman, known for his performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films, is set to make his Hindi debut in one of India's highly anticipated films, “Ramayana.” The actor plays the pivotal character of Ravana’s brother Vibhishana in a Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer. As the first part of this magnum opus is set to arrive during the Diwali weekend, Uthaman opens up about the challenges of playing this layered character and how Nitesh Tiwari shaped this cinematic spectacle with authenticity in an exclusive interview with Variety India.

Vibhishana is often remembered as the man who chose dharma over blood relations. What was your first thought when you were offered this role?

I remember getting a call from the chief AD, Jay (Shah), saying the executive producer wants to speak to me, and when he told me that he wants me for Vibhishana, it was super exciting. It was even more exciting that I am going to be part of “Ramayana,” and I wanted to read and study more about Vibhishana.

Some people view Vibhishana as a hero, while others call him a traitor. How have you approached this moral dilemma as an actor?

I did not have any moral dilemma thinking about Vibhishana because, as an actor, you should be ready to perform with the ideas and nuances the director gives you.

Especially, with a character like Vibhishana, who is a mythical character, one does not have to think about or apply one’s personal opinions or how some people might see him as a hero and others might see him as a traitor. It differs from person to person how they see this character. That goes into a personal space where everybody has their own idea of looking at people or the characters. But as an actor, all I wanted to do was to take the  director's inputs and perform as Vibhishana the way the director wants.

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What aspects of Vibhishana's personality did you find the most challenging to portray on screen?

So far, what we have shot is the part where Vibhishana leaves his home, tribe and kingdom and goes to Rama's side. That’s a moment where the character dynamics changes. This is what I understand and that is what I have felt. As Vibhishana, he was for Dharma and not for Adharma. When he leaves his tribe, that's his own brother and his family, and he's going to the other side. So, that aspect was quite challenging; that's what I felt.

We always have our own views and our own perspective. But when we go perform, when the director gives us the directions or the nuances or the inputs, that's when that character gets shaped up in a better way. So, more than challenging to portray on screen, it was to arrive at that point and mindset as a person that was challenging.

This is one of the biggest Indian films ever mounted. Did the scale of the production change your approach as an actor?

When I am a part of a film, I always only think about how well we can perform, and how I could make a scene or a moment better on screen. And it does not matter according to the scale of the production. I always think about what I can do in a scene or in the film. But saying that, I am super happy that I am a part of the biggest Indian film. And Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, the stalwarts, have composed the music and background score for the film. That is a big dream again. So thinking about that, I am really happy and blessed.

How much emphasis did director Nitesh Tiwari place on authenticity versus cinematic interpretation?

A lot of people, most of them, know about the “Ramayana” and its mythical story and characters, and there have been a lot of interpretations in films. But about Namit Malhotra's “Ramayana,” directed by Nitesh Tiwari, I'm sure, from watching his earlier films, is going to be definitely a cinematic experience with the authenticity of the Ramayana, and the experience would be wholesome, is what I feel. 

Vibhishana undergoes one of the most significant emotional journeys in the epic. Which scene tested you the most as an actor?

The scene where Vibhishana joins Rama's camp was very exciting. It was the dynamics of the scene and the ambience of it, the way it was shot. On the whole, it was a very good experience. I wouldn't say it tested me, but I enjoyed that process. That particular scene had that dynamic where one guy from the opposite side comes into the other side and the energy there, the dynamics of the characters. That was really good.