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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Theatre’s sway holds

M. Balaganessin

Sankaradas Swamigal’s play attracts large audience

LURING AUDIENCE: A music drama, ‘Bama Vijayam,’ in progress in Pudukottai.

PUDUKOTTAI: Interest among members of the public for drama has not waned despite the onslaught of the electronic media.

This was witnessed the other day in Pudukottai town, when a large audience patiently waited to see ‘Bama Vijayam’ scripted by Sankaradas Swamigal. In fact, the staging of the play came as a rich tribute to the doyen of theatre, who enunciated a new principle in scripting dialogue and enacting plays.

The music drama was staged by members of the ‘Pudukottai Muthamizh Nataka Nadigar Sangam’ as part of its 60th anniversary celebration. Sangam members showed keen interest in staging the play that started around an hour after midnight.

For them, it was a matter of pride to exhibit their talent in enacting an old drama in its original style. The songs took the audience into a world of the past. Every scene was marked by a song, the special feature of the music drama.

Actors playing roles such as Narada, Bama and Rukmani appeared on the stage one by one and sung a song to explain the course of the drama. “People are thirsty for such drama. The patronage is more in rural areas,” said Sangam president and Kalaimamani awardee S.M. Isaiarasan.

Sangam secretary M.A.K. Rajarathinam recalled the forum’s achievements in the last six decades. “Noted actor T.R. Mahalingam served the Sangam as president from 1982 to 1986,” he said.

The day-long event was marked by cultural programmes, besides special abishekam for the idol of Sri Sankaradas Swamigal.

Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Su. Tirunavukkarasar and District Revenue Officer, G. Prakasam were among those who participated and offered their felicitations.

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