Assam artisans spent three and a half years making Ranbir Kapoor's armour for Ramayana

Audiences watching a grand film on the big screen focus on the actors, their costumes and the large sets. Behind all of it lies the labour of many unknown hands. Nitesh Tiwari's much-discussed film "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend" also owes a significant contribution to such craftsmen. The special armour for Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Ram, was made by 15 artisans from a small village in Assam. Notably, they initially had no idea which film the armour was being made for.

Jaynal Abdin and his team made the armour in Zenia Bengalipara village in Assam's Barpeta district. The team had 15 artisans in all. They made the armour by hand from bamboo strips, cane and rubber. The work took about three and a half years.

Jaynal Abdin shared his experience of the work. He said the job did not come to him directly from the film's production team. It first reached Abdul Malik of a local organisation called "Gram Unnayan". Abdul Malik phoned Jaynal to tell him about the armour. Jaynal was then given a file containing the armour's design and sketches. He discussed it with his team and began work.

The biggest challenge was making the armour look grand while letting the actor move comfortably in action scenes. The artisans first made a sample of the armour from cane alone, but it did not fit properly around the neck and shoulders. The film's team suggested changes.

The armour was then tested on Ranbir Kapoor. The cane-only armour was too stiff, so Ranbir had difficulty moving his arms and legs. It also put pressure on his neck and shoulders. The film's team then asked Jaynal for suggestions on other materials.

The team subsequently sent black and green rubber. But weaving with rubber alone was not easy. Jaynal then spoke to costume designer Ajay, who proposed using half cane and half rubber. The designer liked the suggestion and a new sample was made accordingly. After this design was approved, the armour was made by the same method.

According to Jaynal, depending on the needs of the shoot, he was sometimes asked for eight armours and sometimes ten. The work therefore often had to be completed in a short time. In about three and a half years, his team made 30 to 35 armours.

At times armour was urgently needed for the Mumbai shoot. In such cases, finished pieces were sent from Barpeta to Guwahati airport and from there delivered to the film's team. The team would also confirm receipt within two to three hours.

Throughout the project the artisans did not know which film they were working for. The film's team had told them only that armour was being made for a film shoot. They were also asked to keep information about the project confidential.

Jaynal learned only after the film's release that the armour he made was part of "Ramayana". Behind the armour seen on Ranbir Kapoor's body on screen lies the three and a half years of work by 15 artisans from a small village in Assam. The unusual story is now being talked about.