KOCHI: One student, 15 characters and 130 props. The Plus-I praveshanolsavam event, to mark the new academic year, at Ernakulam Government Girls HSS set the perfect “stage” with one of the enrollees presenting a one-act play based on a script that combined excerpts from eight Vaikom Muhammad Basheer novels.
The production was written and directed by C S Vishnuraj, a Malayalam language teacher at the school. “Isha I J, who enacted the play, is a product of our own high school division. The play was planned for the legendary author’s death anniversary on July 5. However, since that date fell on a Sunday, we decided to stage it on Monday,” Vishnuraj told TNIE.
“I am certain that this would have been one of the most unique welcomes accorded to Plus-I students,” he added.
According to him, the play was scripted by combining portions from ‘Pathummayude Aadu’, ‘Balyakalasakhi’, ‘Janmadinam’, ‘Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu’, ‘Oru Manushyan’, ‘Mathilukal’, ‘Bhargavi Nilayam’ and ‘Mucheettukalikkarante Makal’.
“It also dealt with contemporary issues such as how society views women, communalisation, war, Priyadarshini travel scheme, among others,” said the teacher, who has helmed many plays.
Pathumma’s goat was the main character of the play. “However, Isha transitioned into 14 other characters as the narrative shifted. And she did it adeptly. The other characters she portrayed were Basheer, Umma, Pathumma, Narayani, Sainaba, Mandan Mustafa, Basheer in Janmadinam, the pickpocket, Kunji Pathumma, Michael Jackson, Natya Kalamandalam Ammini Sathyabhama, Bhargavi, Anujan Jailer, and Basheer in Mathilukal,” he said.
Interestingly, Isha, who is also a good break dancer, handled the costume changes all by herself, Vishnuraj said. “It was initially proposed to stage the play at the Tripunithura Atham celebrations on July 28. But things panned out in such a manner that Isha’s debut performance was before her classmates.”
“Though it was a singular effort by Isha on stage, 10 of her compatriots worked behind the scenes to ensure a seamless performance,” he added.
