It will be a week immersed in nostalgia for the radio listeners out there. Radio dramas which were a popular entertainment years back is getting a new leash of life. Akashvani is coming up with a week of radio dramas where in film stars from Malayalam film industry will be recreating the radio dramas written by noted writers. The dramas will be aired from August 2, Sunday.
The first and prominent drama to be broadcast is Akale Akale Aswasam, written by late writer-director P Padmarajan, about forty-five years ago while he was working as announcer at All India Radio. The play is being re-produced by actors Suresh Gopi, Jayaram and Nedumudi Venu; who played major roles in many Padmarajan films and had closely associated with him. Veteran dubbing artists C R Anandavally, Bhagyalakshmi, G R Nandakumar and Ambili who have dubbed for many Padmarajan’s films are playing other prominent roles in the drama. Music is scored by Perumbavoor G Ravindranath, one of Padmarajan’s favorite music directors and who was introduced by the director.
“The idea of reproducing the radio dramas came to me when I saw Padmarajan’s plays published in a printed form. And later discussed with his family, about reproducing the works in film stars voice who had associated with him. These plays were one of the early forms of his scripting before venturing into the film world. We can find a number of dialogues with the Padmarajan touch,” says N Vasudev, director of the drama.
During its first broadcast, Padmarajan himself played the main role, along with veteran artists like T N Gopinathan Nair, K G Devaki Amma, T P Radhamani, C S Radhadevi and Madavoor Bhasi.
Actor-writer Murali Gopi will be playing the lead role in Ee Stationil Ottakku, presented by Kozhikode station on Monday penned by Shihabuddeen Poythumkadav.
Actors Siddique and Muthumani will do the lead roles in Raksha written by E P Sreekumar and presented by Kochi station on Thursday.
Other plays include Piranah written by Socrates K Valeth for Thrissur station, Ormarakshasanu Maravirakshsante Kathu written by N Sasidharan for Kannur station, Ann Mariya Nokku Eeran Violet pookkal, written by Satheesh K Satheesh for Kozhikode station and Deepasthambham Enikkum Kittanam written by R Vimalasenan Nair for Ananthapuri FM.
The programme will be aired by all stations in Kerala at 9.30 pm from Sunday to Saturday, with a repeat broadcast on the next day at 11 am.
The broadcast is also available on the internet at www.allindiaradio.gov.in.