The success of the sixth edition of the Kozhikodan Natakosavam has invigorated the theatre scene in Kozhikode. The erstwhile Surasu Natakotsavam, when rechristened as Kozhikodan Natakotsavam, has given a sense of purpose to theatre in Malabar, which seems to have been resting on its laurels.
No government backing, no sponsors and no funds. There was even a dearth of volunteers to organise the fete. Hence the credit for the success of this theatre festival of Malabar goes to viewers who threatened to bring down the doors of the auditorium in their eagerness to watch good plays.
What makes the Kozhikodan Natakotsavam different from other festivals of its kind is that it is a festival of viewers, by viewers, and for viewers. It has been organised by a bunch of theatre buffs who were saddened by the fact that Kozhikode, which has a rich theatre tradition of its own, did not have a platform where people could watch plays of international standard. Eight plays were staged in the seven-day festival.
Solo act
The first play, ‘Le Mashale,' which was in a mixture of Hindi and English, proved to be a crowd puller. Ojas S.V., a young theatre activist from Pune, narrated the tale of Irom Sharmila Chanu, the Iron Lady of Manipur, who is on an indefinite hunger strike to press for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Protection Act in Manipur. Her solo play moved the audience, as it depicted a vivid picture of Manipur and its problems.
‘Yakshikkathakalum Nattuvarthamanangalum' by Suvarna Theatres, Perumbavoor, dealt with the struggle of a lone woman who has to defend herself against the rapacious men in her village. The play's highlight was the intricate nature in which myths and reality were seamlessly woven to present a stark tale of exploitation and empowerment. The lead role of Purnami was handled by Surabhi, a very talented actor.
‘Jalakhadikaram,' staged by Collective Signs, Payyannur, on the third day of the festival, essayed the difficulties of a man who can't help react to his surroundings. ‘Quick Death,' a much-acclaimed play presented by Theatre Roots and Wings, was staged in Kerala for the first time. It had featured in the MetroPlus Theatre Festival in Chennai.
In the classics section, Prakash Bare and group presented Samuel Beckett's masterpiece ‘Waiting for Godot,' stressing its relevance in today's circumstances. It was followed by ‘Oru Desham Nuna Parayunnu' by Repertory Theatres, Kozhikode. The play was a strong critique of a society that resorts to lies just to be on the safe side.
The choice of ‘Ramanan' by Kalidasa Kalakendram, Kollam, in a theatre festival where all other entries were amateur plays, was much questioned. But the play was a tribute to poet Changampuzha Krishna Pillai on his birth centenary year by the Kalakendram, which itself is celebrating its golden jubilee.
‘Spinal Cord' by Oxygen theatres, Thrissur, was a fitting conclusion to the festival, as it broke all preconceived notions of theatre with its total erasing of boundaries between the stage and the audience.
A campus theatre film festival, theatre workshop for students and a ‘travelling play' (‘Natakavandi'), which travelled through the city staging a street play ‘Josephinte Radio,' were all part of the festival.
But the festival has not ended for theatre buffs. ‘Sahyante Makan', directed by Sankar Venkateshwaran for Theatre Roots and Wings, often said to be the best total theatre experience in Malayalam in recent times,
will be staged in Kozhikode on December 1.
