Exploring the incredible potential of drama, 46-year-old K P Sajeevan, a dramatist in Kozhikode, effectively uses drama to bring patients out of depression, stress and painful situations. His drama camp proves that drama therapy plays a major role, when medicines cannot completely cure and improve mental health.
Drama therapy is the use of a theatre technique to help people, irrespective of their age and gender, to overcome mental strain. Hailing from Kallod, Kozhikode, Sajeevan had an inclination for drama from childhood, but it was known dramatist K T Muhammad who directed him to drama therapy. “I look upon the opportunity to have been with him a major milestone in my life. During the release of my first book Kali Muttathoru Nadakam in 2000, he asked me to try my hand at drama therapy.”
“I just want to make sure that in future when mentally challenged kids look back there will be a smile on their faces. With drama therapy I try to convince special kids that they are not inferior to anybody in the world,” says Sajeevan, who conducts camps for special kids without charging any fee. He is also running a camp called 'Kalimuttam' at Perambra to teach the basic lessons of drama to children.
Proving the efficacy of drama therapy on kids and adults, now Sajeevan aims to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for conducting the maximum number of theatre camps for kids. He has already conducted 2,035 camps across the state and New Delhi.
“I love to be with children. They quickly acquire skills by diligent practise if we succeed in evoking an interest in them,” he says. Admitting that it is not easy to bring special kids on track he says, “If we are confident enough, we can improve their communication skills and behaviour pattern. Apart from the basics in drama he imparts yoga techniques, body exercise and speech exercise.”
Recollecting his childhood days, Sajeevan says, “There were instances when my father used to lock me up in a room to prevent me from performing drama. Even now, nobody in my family likes to see me as a dramatist, they want me to do something else,” he says.
Following his true call, after pre-degree he became a full-time drama artist. The artist says he gets inspiration from persons he meet in his daily life. “Every person I come across in my life in some way gave me a thread for a new story.” He has already written 40 dramas and published five books, including Kalimuttathoru Nadakam (2000 Samara Bhoomiyile Vijaya Gadha (2001), Sajeevante Thiranjedutha Nadakangal (2010), Aalepperi (2012) and Asuraparvam (2013).
Sajeevan is not happy with the approach of the new generation parents to drama. “They want their kids to be active on reality shows and acquire fame. They completely neglect theatre. There is a notion among parents that drama is an art of the poor. The best way to learn the importance of drama is to be a part of it, he says.
“The media shows keen interest only in covering film awards and film-related reports. We, theatre artistes, hardly get any space in newspapers and time in the visual media,” he says.
The dramatist-cum-drama therapist can be seen on the stage as an actor in the new drama Prakashante Prashnangal Adhava Naazhiyariyum Vellariyum at his native place on March 23. Those interested in organising Kalimuttam drama camp may contact Sajeevan on 9846163745.