When two veterans of theatre collaborate, supported by neat on-stage performances, the result is bound to engage the viewers’ attention. K.S.N. Sundar has penned the story and dialogue for the Tamil play Nidharsanam while octogenarian Kudanthai Mali, with more than half a decade of stage experience, has directed it. Inter-caste marriage is the premise of the play and both have handled it deftly. A little deviation might have stirred up the hornet’s nest. The actors on stage too were a heterogeneous mixture of veterans and youngsters. Karur Rangarajan, yet another octogenarian, was his usual calm self as Mani Sastrigal, who takes pride in standing by his principles.
Balaji Desigan, young and energetic, with expressive eyes and quick repartees, as Mani Sastrigal’s assistant and foster son Jayarama Sastrigal kept the play flowing. Sellakkannu (Chandigarh Ramani) as a villager, whose son grows up to be an IAS officer (Dr. Sundararaman) is another veteran who stole the show with his rural dialect and composure. Sundararaman was an apt choice as IAS officer Easwar, who sometimes seemed to be naive.
The director used two sub-plots as narrated by Vakkil Sambamurthy (Narasimha Bharathy) to influence Mani Sastrigal on the advantages of an inter-caste marriage and Sabapathy (Dr. Kalyanaraman) to influence Easwar on the minus. This enabled the play to move forward in its debate on inter-caste marriage.
Easwar falls in love with Mani Sastrigal’s daughter and is determined to marry her. Most of the scenes had two characters interacting sharply which helped the audience focus their attention individually. Kalaivanar Kichcha’s spots were impressive while his back ground score was adequate. Sowmya Ramnarayan as Mani Sastrigal’s daughter Lakshmi, who has absolute faith in her father, has a sweet voice.
The play that had a twist at the end brought back memories of stalwarts SVS and TSS.
