Classic rock fuels this totally home-grown opera directed by Muthu

PHOTOS: R.RAGU

MUSICAL DRAMA Diverse influences make up "The Fallen"

Play rehearsals, especially as a project approaches deadline — which, in this case, means, opening night — are usually a lot of fun, if you are up to it. Almost imperceptibly, the camaraderie within the performing group tightens as the knots in your stomach begin to wind and unwind; there's still the usual horsing around, but it is now more of a self-conscious mechanism to release some of the growing tension.

In the slightly poky classroom at St. Mark's school in Gandhinagar, Adyar, however, where Mike Muthu and his associates are improvising on scenes from "The Fallen" — India's first original rock opera, Muthu drones dreamily — nobody's really prancing about; nevertheless there's a lot of energy release: the proceedings are taking on the shape of a mini-concert. On the lead guitar there's the talented Sanjiv Philip Thomas, sweating as he keeps count for bassist and drummer, and fiddling with his amp every now and then; there's also rock vocalist Arjun Janakiraman bellowing into his mike and bravely attempting to act at the same time.

"We got kicked out of a couple of places before this; rock is practically dead in this city," complains Sujan, who plays the lead part of an impoverished, debauched, aspiring rock-star, who owes Arjun's character a lot of money — in short, the sort that is usually compelled to vacate rented premises. (No, but seriously, Sujan does make a valid point.) While it's somewhat ironic that The Boardwalkers should end up rehearsing in a school, especially after what Pink Floyd had to say in its concept album, "The Wall", yet, the compromise is a sign of the times: this is rock with a message, unapologetically moralistic if you like, and certainly not a Jim Morrison-style rant. "And they call Morrison a poet," Muthu scoffs, to my mind, justifiably. "He had terrific stage presence but was, for the most part, juvenile."

Classic rock might fuel this opera; but Sanjiv's pulsating riffs border at times on Pearl Jam grungy - and as if to confirm the prospect of melodic mayhem, Muthu informs me that a tabla player and Bharatanatyam dancer are part of the 24-strong cast.

"We screened `The Fallen' once last year, but that was to a select, older audience, and it wasn't live," says Muthu. "This time, we haven't tinkered around too much, although Sanjiv has changed some stuff in the score. But synchronising the music with the acting, and also the visuals playing in the background screen, will be challenging."

The Director's Cut

Michael Muthu

Why a rock opera?

We wanted to use a medium that conveys raw energy; something that conventional theatre probably wouldn't, so effectively. I grew up with rock; it's something that cuts across generations. It encompasses a wide range of gut-level emotions, it's radical, unconventional.

Isn't it a common theatre form in the West?

"The Fallen" is India's first original rock opera; but I'm told that in all, across the world, not more than eight have been produced.

What music inspired this opera?

Sanjiv Philip Thomas composed the music, while I wrote the lyrics; Sanjiv brings varied influences like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Doors and Grateful Dead. Pink Floyd's "The Wall" is an important influence.

VIJAY PARTHASARATHY