KOCHI: Plays and promotional videos are not new. Everyday someone or the other comes up with one on topics that range from political agendas to entertainment. However, a group of youngsters led by two cousins-Ananda Krishnan and Anantharaman from Manjummel near Eloor-has come up with a play that neither exudes any political agendas nor aims at entertainment.
The play titled H20 highlights the plight of Ayyankulam, a pond near Manjummal which is dying slowly. The crowd funded play focuses on the challenges being faced by the waterbody.
According to the organisers, Ayyamkulam pond once provided water to 100 families residing nearby but now has become a dumping ground for waste. Encroachments too have shrunk the size of the pond from 72 cents to 52. All the work that had been done to save the pond to date by the political parties and individuals have come to naught, since their efforts were not sincere.
The plight of over 30,000 residents living in Eloor under the shadow of more than 250 industries was also depicted. Pollution has taken a toll on the land and the river.
“H2O aims to bring a revolution through art. For the people living here, Periyar is an important source of water. However, the river water is contaminated,” says Ananda Krishnan. If the pond is cleaned, then the people here will be able to use it to meet their water needs, he says.
He says, “When we were kids, we used to play near the pond. But today no one comes here. The pond presents a sad sight.”
The play had been promoted through social media platforms like Facebook Live and YouTube. The organisers were happy with the crowd that came to see the play even though it rained.
“We have set up a website ‘Save H20’ to promote the cause. We cannot use water from Periyar. The river water gleams with pollutants. Even fish can’t survive in it,” says Anantharaman. “Eloor is in the grip of deadly diseases, especially cancer.”
Kochunni, who is in his early 90’s, says, “The pond used to be a major source of water during my childhood.” He says, water for cooking, drinking and washing was sourced from this pond. But over the years waste began accumulating in and around the pond.