A hoarding at Lalpur Chowk, Ranchi, announcing the water ballet. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Spend a good one-and-a-half hours staring at the pool at Veer Budhu Aquatic Stadium in Hotwar, Ranchi, and see the water dance its way to the fantasy world.

For the first time in Ranchi, a group of 65 Calcutta-based artistes will perform a water ballet based on Satyajit Ray’s fantasy adventure Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen on three consecutive days from September 27. Performers from the Indian Life Saving Society in Calcutta will present the Hindi adaptation of the film, which is based on Ray’s father Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury’s story. The dancers, who have perfected the art for the past 50 years, will have songs for company.

Organised by Jharkhand IAS Officers’ Wives Association, the outfit that has been hosting an annual Diwali fair in the capital for the past eight years, the event will be a fund-raiser. The proceeds will go towards buying books, clothes and medicines for poor children.

There will be only one show from 7pm onwards daily and the artists will enact the whole drama complete with dialogues, dance, music and of course, synchronised strokes and splashes. There will be special light and sound effects too.

The air-conditioned stadium, which has a seating capacity of more than 3,000, is expected to go jam-packed, as organisers have already started getting overwhelming response to watch the 1969 Bengali film in water.

Speaking to The Telegraph, secretary of the association Mini Singh said it was a first-of-its-kind show and people were genuinely excited. “Last year, this same group had performed on Rabindranath Tagore’s Tasher Desh in different places across the country and also abroad. This time, they will be performing in our own city on the cult film directed by Ray,” Singh added.

Asked why they suddenly decided to showcase water ballet, the secretary said: “Every year, we organise Diwali fair, but this time, we thought of doing something different to provide Ranchiites wholesome entertainment. It will be a performance of international standard.”

There are emergency provisions like putting up a shed during rain.

Priced at Rs 350, Rs 250 and Rs 150, tickets are available at Firayalal, Elite Books, Roshpa Towers, Ranchi Gymkhana Club and Ranchi Club. Entry for children below three years is free.