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The tale of the vampire

Photo K. Ananthan

EXCELLENT PROPS A scene from Ratha kaateri

Back at the press meet we were told that the play would be more like a film, and that planes would land, and cars ply on the stage.

Throw in a ratha kaateri (vampire), and the entire idea is so alluring. What’s more, this is perhaps one of the first plays in Malayalam to be dubbed in Tamil.

I could hardly wait to catch the play, Ratha Kaateri by Kerala-based Kalainilayam Drama Vision.

The story line is simple. A rational scientist questions the presence of vampire at a deserted bungalow, and plans to stay there to carry out his research. He is killed by the vampire. An old man recounts the story to a bunch of unbelieving police.

A repugnant looking Lakshmi is the daughter of a herbal medico Kaadan. Despite his warning, she uses one of his potions to turn herself into a beauty, after his death.

She befriends her father’s friend’s son, who gets her pregnant, but marries another girl.

Shortly, the son is bitten by a snake, and as Lakshmi tries to suck the poisoned blood out of his system, she turns into a vampire.

Which is precisely why her father never gave her the potion!

What sets the otherwise mundane tale, is its brilliant packaging. First the props. How do they do it? Before you could say aiyyo, the bungalow setting turns into a forest; the white-sari clad woman turns into a mammoth, evil-faced, red-sari clad vampire. And, an airplane does land on the stage, as does a red car. There is also rain!

The play is laced with humour. For instance, they call ICS the Indian Cooking Service, and the PWD Plate Washing Department! The play comes with digital surround sound, and hence the audio is clear and the quality is superb. The actors deserve a great round of applause for the perfect rendition of the dubbed dialogues. It is a brilliant pot pourri of digital sound, dialogue delivery, dubbing, incredibly swift prop shift, and more than anything else, astonishing amount of creativity and hard work.

No amount of preparation quite preps you for the experience. It exceeded all expectation. Our verdict: watch it! Especially because such shows are hard to come by.

The play is on at VOC Kaithari Maidan on Dr. Nanjappa Road. The tickets are available for Rs. 250, Rs. 100, Rs. 60 and Rs. 30. Five tickets for a family can be bought at Rs. 1,000. For tickets and details, call 99527-88024.

W. SREELALITHA

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