The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Chettinad Players put up a professional performance

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Friday, Nov 24, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chettinad Players put up a professional performance

Staff Reporter

35 players perform `Vaali Vadham'

YOUNG PLAYERS: Chettinad Vidyashram students performing `Vaali Vadham' on Wednesday. - PHOTO: R. Shivaji Rao

Chennai: It was not just a group of children `monkeying' about the stage. `Vaali Vadham' was a rather professional performance by the `Chettinad Players,' after arduous practice for the last six months.

Guided by S. Amudhalakshmi, headmistress, Primary Chettinad Vidyashram, the cast of around 35 players, recreated the incidents surrounding the killing of Vaali, by Rama, when he was engaged in a duel with Sugreeva.

Massive set

The massive set of a thick jungle with a three-dimensional impact was conceived by art director Thota Tharani and the play was directed by J. Jayakumar, a theatre artist. The play follows earlier productions including Dhutha Gadothgajam, Indrajit, Ravana and Karna.

"All of us volunteered to act ... it is the only way a student can give his or her best expression to their acting talent," said B. Prashanth, who played the role of Sugreeva.

Elaborate costumes

The elaborate costumes were designed by the Chettinad Players team and the recording of the background score was done by Bhaskar at Rajiv Menon's recording studio. Music is by Jayaraj, light design by Kumaravel and graphic design by Sasi Krishnan.

C. Bharati Lakshmi has co-ordinated the play and the script was written by Priyamvada and Kumaravel.

The role of Vali, conceived as a slain hero mouthing profound philosophies as he was dying, was donned by Dushyanth.

The audience were in for a surprise when Dushyanth, announced the name of G.N.D. Shyam, the original actor who played Vaali's role and ran down the dais to give him a hug and guided him up. Shyam came up on the stage with great difficulty dragging his plastered foot.

He had met with an accident just two days before the play.

The students did not forget to thank the school founder Meena Muthiah for her encouragement.

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