THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Theatre is currently gaining in strength reflecting the fact that films and television serials cannot replace drama, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has said.
He was inaugurating the fifth National Drama Festival 2009 oragnised by Department of Information and Public Relations in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
``Films and television programmes cannot replace drama and it drama is gaining in strength once again not only in the State but also all over the country. The leading actors of Malayalam film industry are keen to associate themselves with drama even amidst their busy schedule. This shows that nothing can replace drama,’’ the Chief Minister said. Various art forms especially dramas played a major role in the overall development of the State, he said.
Veteran drama artistes Pappukutty Bhagavathar, S Ramanujam and M K Kamalam were honoured on the occasion.
The Chief Minister also released the Drama festival book by handing it over to eminent film and theatre personality Seema Biswas, who was the chief guest at the function. V Sivankutty MLA, Chief Secretary K J Mathew and Sheela Thomas IAS were among those present on the occasion.