THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:‘‘Thiruvaazhithan,’ the play by Kavalam Narayana Panicker is returning to the stage on Monday. This time, it’s to celebrate a ‘birthday.’
The play, first staged in 1969, will be staged at the Ganesham Naatakakalari to mark the 25th anniversary of Abhinaya Theatre Research Centre. Incidentally, it was Kavalam Narayana Panicker who inaugurated Abhinaya in 1992.
Acclaimed film maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan will inaugurate the 25th anniversary celebrations of the theatre group at 6.30 pm on Monday, March 27, which is observed as the World Theatre Day.
The play will begin at 7 pm, D Raghoothaman, president, Abhinaya, said. The 25th anniversary festivities will last for a year, he said.
Ever since its inception 25 years ago, Abhinaya has grown into a nationally and internationally grown theatre group, staging works of stalwarts such as William Shakespeare, Eugene Ionesco, Herman Hesse, C J Thomas, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, G Sankara Pillai and K Ayyappa Panicker.
Naripatta Raju, who has directed ‘Thiruvaazhithan’ for the 25th anniversary celebrations, said the play, a theatrical adaptation of a folk tale which was passed on orally, is much more relevant today than it was then.
The staging of ‘Thiruvaazhithan’ is also an opportunity to pay homage to Narayana Panicker, who passed away in June 2016. The cast includes Sreevas V K, Sowmya, Satheesh Pulikka, Praful Purushothaman and Akhil Viswanathan. Music is by Kaithapram Viswanathan.