All the world's a stage

Mohanlal is once again getting ready to stage the epic character, Bheema, through the play ‘Chayamukhi’.
All the world's a stage

LEAVING behind the advantages of celluloid like close up shots, dubbing and other elements, Mohanlal is once again getting ready to stage the epic character, Bheema, through the play ‘Chayamukhi’.

Besides ‘Chayamukhi’, the theatrical version of classics like ‘Bhagavatha Jugam’, ‘Prema Lekhanam’, ‘Mathilukal’ and a production of contemporary modern theatre, ‘Ithu Oru Kurangante Kathayalla’ will be staged at Jose Thomas Performing Art Centre (JT PAC)fro October 11.

The 10-day theatre festival, a joint venture of Soorya Cultural Society and JT Pac, promises to be an enriching experience to connoisseurs of drama.

On October 11, ‘Paattabakki’, a play depicting the revolutionary changes that took place in the social milieu of Kerala, will mark the beginning of the theatre festival. ‘Bhagavatha Jugam’, a classic by Kavalam Narayana Panicker, will be staged on October 12.

Exploiting the elements from ancient Sanskrit theatre, Kavalam has added to the Sanskrit literary work the satirical version of contemporary social stigma.

‘Bashtukara’ directed by Raju Naripatta will be staged on October 13. Soorya Krishnamoorthy’s experimental theatre version of ‘Pulari’ will be staged the next day. Breaking the conventional style of Kerala theatre Krishnamoorthy narrates the story against an entirely different backdrop. Keeping the subtle elements of the story line the director tries to expose the intricacies of the human mind in this play.

On the fifth day of the theatre festival, the dramatic version of Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer’s ‘Prema Lekhanam’ will be staged. This will be Soorya Krishnamoorthy’s second play in the theatre festival. On October 15 the niceties of theatre will be unveiled through the the play ‘Ithu Oru Kurangante Kathayalla’.

Another noted play of Soorya Krishnamoorthy, ‘Melvilasam’, will be staged on October 16.

On October 17, the much awaited ‘Chayamukhi’ will be staged where Mohanlal plays the lead role of Bheema and Mukesh plays Keechaka. The play is based on the interactions between Bheema and Keechaka. Contrary to the conventional depiction of Keechaka as an antihero, in ‘Chayamukhi’, director Prasanth Narayan induces a kindhearted sensitive personality in this conventional villain. His Keechaka loves flowers and admires the serene seasons in the nature, especially winter. The director gives him a poetic mind. Produced by Mukesh’s Kalidasa Visual Magic, the concept of the play taken from the Mahabharata is scripted and directed by Prasanth Narayan. The play is a fusion of the epic and the present world. The story is presented through the eyes of three petty thieves who venture in to the forest and witness certain events depicted in the Mahabharata.

‘Kanyadhanam’, the play directed by M Vinod that shows the atrocities faced by Indian women in a socio-economic system controlled and dominated by chauvinists, will be staged on October 18. Basheer’s ‘Mathilukal’ will be staged on October 19. It unveils the possibilities of theatre in exploring the literary potential of Basheer's stories. This unique theatrical version is directed by Pramod Payyannoor. The 10-day long theatre fest will conclude with the staging of the plays ‘Koonan’ and ‘Kannadi’ on October 20.

sivadasvarma@gmail.com

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