CHENNAI: Koumarane Valavane
He started the Indianostrum Theatre company after coming down to Chennai from France about two years back. Deeply fascinated by Indian mythology and with a will to do justice to theatre, as an art form, Koumarane Valavane has effectively used alternate techniques through metaphors and non-linear narratives.
“As an actor, I have always felt it to be essential to portray the real stigmas and conflicts in society; all the more about hardships faced by a theatre artiste. In my previous play, The Midnight Traveler, which is about the odds faced by an actor, I create an illusion just using light. However, alternate methods should also be used only when the script demands it. In my previous production, Lakshmanan Kanavu, I talk of theatre aspirants and the various myths and stigmas society attaches to theatre. The latest production, Madhavi is inspired by the works of the French poet, Jean Genet. That has been combined to tell the story of Madhavi, as she waits for Kovalan, not aware of his death, while two maids act as clowns and make her laugh. It is written by Sivaprakash, playwright and poet.
Madhavi will be staged at the Alliance Francaise on April 4 and 5.
Yog Japee
He explored his calling in theatre afresh in 2003 with a trained group of youngsters under the forum, Theatre Y. His latest production RealitY, a series of non-linear narratives made a mark not just in Chennai, but in Singapore as well. “Theatre has to give the audience the time and space to contruct the story in their minds. I would not use a non-linear narrative just for the sake ot it, but only if the script really deamnds it. In RealitY, we presented split narratives and made people go through various, contrasting emotions back-to-back. I want the story in the person’s mind to develop.
Another old production called Black Daal, which I’m planning to revive, is an adaptation of stories by Roald Dahl. They use dark humour and suspense. We have used three to four of his stories and put them in a narrative that jumps from one story to another. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle where the piueces fall into place by the end.
To enhance various perspetives, non-linear narrative is a strong tool.”
Prasanna Ramaswamy
A renowed theatre veteran, Prasanna works under her forum Paatini. Her plays are intense and use excerpts from the works of poets like Manushyaputhiran, Cheran, Sanmarga, Paul Zacharia and Benjamin Zephania, besides other classic musical pieces and even art. Some of her best works include Nithyakalyani, Jewish Wife, Inner Space, Uyir Nizhal and Nadiyin Karunai.
“My entire discourse has been about displacements. And within this discourse, I find parallel resonances through poetry. I did a guest production, Zikr E Na Sunida, in Pakistan for a Karachi-based company. It revolved around cross- border terrorism and loss of a home. It was called The Lost Paradise. Everything is based on war and the suffering caused by war through poetic resonances. All my productions and scripts are inter-textual. Movement and music are a part of the lingo of my plays.
saranyachakrapani@epmltd.com