Kerala - Kochi   

Budding artistes play contemporary themes

On day two of the State school arts festival in Kannur on Thursday, the drama contest saw some poignant presentations of contemporary issues.

As budding artistes emoted on stage, theatre seemed to have its charm and eloquence intact.

Time appeared frozen when the ancient art-form was once again made to don the role of an awareness tool. And Kannur had a receptive audience to all the drama. Punathil Kunhabdulla, novelist, was a surprise visitor.

The spectators were given a portrayal of the issues of the times such as conflict between science and religion, stress of modern life, human tendencies and wonders of knowledge.

The first cluster of four dramas encompassed these themes, showing how well the young generation is aware of the course of life.

A common character in three of them was grandmother.

The opening drama, Oon Thirichuvarum (He will return), was essentially a boy's search for truth, caught as he is between the teachings of religion and the accepted truth of science. Kunju Bashir disappears in his quest for truth, while his grandmother eagerly awaits his return.

The next play was a satire on family values in conflict with modern living, which leaves out love and emotion. Here, the protagonist is accidentally locked up in her school toilet while playing a prank on her mother. It is the last day of the academic year, and inside the four walls, she recollects memories of her childhood with her grandmother and friends. The girl yearns for the love of her family. The technique used was a projection of her mind on stage through a narrator who seamlessly blended the past and the present.

Uthupante Kinaru (The well of Uthup) gave the message that aimless development policies, aided by loans, would, in the end, yield nothing but grief.

Told as a story within a story by an old nanny to a bunch of children, the play focusses on the humane side of a man who digs a well for his community, only to be jeered at and cast away when a water tap is commissioned in the village. His contribution is forgotten with the passage of time, and the insults and modern development policies shatter his world, forcing him to take his life by jumping into the well. The tap goes dry, and drought seals the fate of the village. The children are made to understand all the sides of any social action.

The last play celebrated the triumph of spirit over adversity, with knowledge shown as the guiding light in the path of life. Titled Sarayu Parvathathilekku Ozhukunnu (Sarayu flows to the mountain), the play tells the story of a polio-affected girl, Sarayu, who does not give up on her life and abhors sympathy.

Her resilience and strength stem from the knowledge she gets from books, her only friend, which she treasures fiercely.

The play addresses the stigma of being physically challenged, and the need to have a positive outlook on life.

Sujith Menon

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Budding artistes play contemporary themes
Centre told to form panel
Walk down memory lane for former Kalaprathibha
Norms to ensure safety of passengers
Film actors among mono-act contestants
Team goes into Kochi arms haul
Woman found dead
Development mission fund soon
French ships to call at Kochi port today
third promo
Around the City
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu