Life couldn’t have been easy for Kelu Nair, a multifaceted, versatile freedom fighter, who committed suicide in 1930 when he was just 30 years old. Why did he do it? Was it the family which compelled him to take such a drastic step, or was it the disappointment in his political endeavours, or was he just lonely and depressed? Explores the brothers-duo Manoj and Vinod in their drama ‘Kelu’, an adaptation of the script written by writers Rajagopal and Sashidharan.
Vinod, who enacts the role of Kelu says, “The story of Kelu Nair is quite relevant today. He was a playwright as well. He had discussed relevant social issues that were taboo in the society in his plays during 1900s. We are trying to come up with our own conclusions for his sudden death”.
The drama group ‘Celebrations’, which has about 60 youngsters including college students as members, has been active in the field with its plays like ‘Hijada’, ‘Hookah’, ‘Mezhukuthirikal’ and many others. After their small break from the field they are expecting to regain their high status in the field with this socio-political drama. With live music and heart-wrenching performances, ‘Kelu’ is all ready to garner audience’s love from the very first screening.
Vinod, a School of Drama graduate, and his brother Manoj were disciples of the renowned script writer Lohitha Das. Though their ultimate aim is cinema, their loyalty towards theatre is nothing less.
“We have even made a feature film together called ‘Orkut’. Nevertheless we will never completely leave theatre for Cinema,” says Vinod.
The drama, all set to make history, will have its first screening on the world drama day, March 27 at Fine Arts Hall, Kochi. It will have 20 of ‘Celebrations’ members performing as characters who had been part of Kelu Nair’s life.
The Secretary of Kerala Sahithya Parishad, M V Benny, will give a speech at the screening programme organised by the Kerala Fine Arts Society.