KOCHI: The Nataka Kalari, one of the prominent epicentres of the amateur theatre movement in the state especially in the financial hub of Kerala is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the movement started by G Shankara Pillai in 1967 by holding a year-long celebration across the state started this Sunday. The institution infused a fresh lease of life in the theatre movement at a time when theatre was gasping for a change in the state.
The Nataka Kalari assumes significance when considering the fact it was one of the main theatre movements in the state. It set a precedent by holding plays every Saturday in the heart of Kochi attracting theatre buffs and tenaciously keeping the theatre alive in the city against all odds. It also contributed some of the best plays and theatre personalities to the country at a time when the theatre lost the patronage of the elite.
“The movement which gave birth to a new playhouse called ‘Vaikkom Thirunal Natakavedi’ in 1978 to help students complete the Nataka Kalari course - which now functions as repertoire of the movement - was perhaps a bold attempt in the history of the theatre to revive ‘serious theatre’ and tradition set by the late veterans in the field to popularise people’s theatre by taking it to the masses”, said John T Vekkan, director of Vaikkom Thirunal Natakavedi.
The Nataka Kalari will hold special programmes in memory of veterans like M Govindan, C N Sreekandan Nair, M V Devan, K S Narayana Pillai, K Ayyappa Paniker, and G Sankara Pillai at various places in the state in the next one year in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of the theatre movement which still remains faithful to the cause of theatre. The institution had contributed a total of 32 plays over the years in an attempt to reflect the social struggles in theatre space.
Further, special classes and workshops on theatre and presentation of plays will be held at schools, colleges and other institutions as part of popularising theatre and attracting the youth and masses to this sector in next one year, said the organisers. And the year-long celebrations was inaugurated by Adoor Gopalakrishnan in Kochi on Sunday, on the occasion of 41st death anniversary of C N Sreekantan Nair, founder member of the Nataka Kalari movement.