Wide range of themes
MANU REMAKANT
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Ten days of plays from all parts of Kerala came as a bonanza for theatre buffs in the capital city.
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`Qurbana', was a treat for theatre buffs.
VIGNETTES OF A FETE: Scenes from `Sakharam Binder'.
The 10-day drama festival in the capital city in connection with the 29th Soorya Festival attracted a lot of theatre lovers. Most of the plays sincerely tried to rejuvenate ageing theatre formats with their splendid story telling. Some failed to reach the mark but try they did.
The opening day's play `Sakharam Binder,' directed by N. Binoy, made a brave effort in adapting a classic like Vijay Tendulkar's `Sakharam Binder' for the regional audience.
The famous play revolves around the theme of a man who stands against society being pulled apart by two women. The most remarkable feature of the play was the performance of Gopalan as Sakharam.
Sterling performance
`Jeevacharithram,' produced by Central Arts, a theatre group in Vellur in Payyannur, came up with some splendid performances. The play, in a lucid tone, tells the story of a remote village in Kasaragod evolving along with its people.
People and nature became one as the drama unfolded on stage. The evocative staging of the play cast a spell on the audience as they smiled and cried with the protagonists of the play. The loss of innocence in the village became painful for the audience too. Directed by S. Sunil, the play was a wonderful experience.
Scenes from `Jeevacharithram.'
Babu as Chemban represented the downtrodden while Ramesh as Vakkeelar represented the feudal class.
Great expectations
The audience had great expectations when they gathered for a play put up by students of the School of Drama. And the students delivered. `Qurbana', was a treat for theatre buffs. Not a single inch of the stage was left unexplored, not a tone left unused, not an emotion unexpressed. Sandeep, Athira, Renju, Manoj and Malu made the hall reverberate with their scintillating dramatic performance that was supported by drums.
Very soon they had the whole audience responding to their rhythmic beats.
The fourth wall was broken and characters began to emerge from the audience. The music set the mood for the razor-sharp social criticism.
Gripping play
`Ekakini' directed my Manoj Narayanan was unique in every aspect. Spectators expected the 45-minute performance to be a flop as the storyline was revealed in the introductory speech.
With just one character on stage, many wondered how they would sit through the play. But the sceptical viewers were pinned to their seats as Sarojini, a destitute, revealed her thoughts through her loud musings and explained why she committed suicide. Rathi Peruvattoor excelled in the role of Sarojini.
Kavalam Narayana Panikker's play `Raja' was the last play of the drama festival. As usual, Kavalam tried to incorporate traditional folk elements within the play. The adaptation of Tagore's play `Raja' was a challenge for Kavalam and he fine tuned it by assimilating Theyyam elements into the story.
The invisible hero is the focal point of the story but the play throws light on those who seek the invisible. It was a take on those seeking the spiritual.
Mohini Vinayan and Saritha Jayan played their roles well to communicate the theme to the audience. Dance and music added to the punch of the play.
`Oru Marupadi Prasangam,' Klaver Rani,' `Kalivesham,' `Anthayugam' and `Nithiyum Neethiyum' were some of the other plays which were performed during the festival.
Jayaprakash Kuloor's short plays, which pungently criticised the rampant hypocrisy in society, attracted many theatre buffs.
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