CHENNAI: Ayya Amma Ammamma – a theatrical comedy, which was staged at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha on Sunday, was truly a treat after a stress-driven long week. Written by ‘Crazy’ Mohan, and enacted and directed by ‘Kathadi’ Ramamurthy, the play presents the story of a married man who longs to return to his carefree bachelor days.
After living it up for 34 years, Ragupathy (Kathadi Ramamurthy, the protagonist) desperately wants to marry. But on the other hand, he is also scared of losing his free will. Ragupathy puts the blame on his parents for not getting him married earlier, and with the help of his friend Kailash, the two hatch a plan.
As their ‘spin of yarn’ unfurls, Ragupathy is suffering from ulcer due to lack of timely food consumption and he desperately needs a life partner to take care of him. They also set up Jaganathan, the manager in their company, an old man (who is involved in selling office stationery to school kids and has been caught red-handed by Ragupathy and Kailash), to play the role of the doctor.
Of course the plan goes haywire — his parents arrive late, the fake doctor blurts out that the disease can be diagnosed ‘only with a thermometre’ and when his parents find a girl, they try cancelling it as they think he is suffering from ulcer. Later when Ragupathy confesses that none of this is true, he finally gets to tie the knot.
As expected, the plot doesn’t end here. In order to relive the joys of being single, Ragupathy comes up with hilarious ideas to develop a cat-fight between his mother and wife but, in vain.
Finally when he decides to start living a disciplined life, his wife and mother get into heated argument and start disliking each other. Janaki, his wife, storms to her mother’s house and Ragupathy bids good-bye to his parents.
Rejoicing at the thought of his new found single status once again, he realises his mistake and longs for love and care, which are depicted through rib tickling one-liners.
‘Kathadi’ is the evergreen face of Tamil theatre and has been on stage for over 50 years backed by 5,000 stage appearances. The hall that saw more than 200 people enjoying the play, some even wiping away tears, went home with uncontainable bellyaches — all in the course of a good cause, or you might say a good laugh.