THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Poojappura Moni, 63, is more than a genset contractor who provides power backup to various programmes in the city. Over the past forty years, he has been the ‘light’ behind legendary artistes’ celebrated plays and ballets.
Moni’s presence is felt at the CPM state conference venue at Putharikandam Maidan also as he is lighting up the exhibition stalls as well as the stages of the arts programmes.
When ‘Express’ met him at the CPM conference venue the other day, he was busy in giving a reddish hue to the history expo venue and the stage where CPM state secretary addresses the gathering in connection with the expo to suit the theme of the event.
“I am providing round-the-clock backup to the conference venue here up to February 10. Besides, I will be providing backup to the cultural event ‘Manimuzhakkam’ by Kalabhavan Mani at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium on February 10, he said.
He said 20 of his workers are engaged at Putharikandam to provide power backup without fail. Four genset units of 125 KV capacity have been deployed for the purpose. Moni said that he could provide backup with a capacity of 5 KV to 500 KV round-the-clock in case of power failure.
Asked what change had he experienced over the years, he said the sector demands huge investments and involvement of qualified people these days. ”Mixer operators and computerised lighting systems have added to the quality and novelty to the lighting system,” he said.
Moni has had a long stint in working with well-known artistes like Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Narendra Prasad and Vayala Vasudevan Pillai and ballet exponents Guru Chandrasekharan and Guru Gopinath. Well-known actors Bharat Gopi, Murali and Nedumudi Venu were there with these teams.
When Kavalam’s Sopanam theatre presented the play ‘Avanavan Kadamapa’, I was there to provide lighting. I had gone to Delhi and Gujarat with Soorya Krishnamoorthy to light up the stage for light and sound shows.
Though years have passed since he entered this field, he has still that enthusiasm in working with artistes.
‘’My present contracts include various television programmes. The next major event is the drama fest to be staged at Karthika Thirunal theatre in the city scheduled later this month, he said.