Thrissur-based theatre group Nataka Souhrudam has launched a project to stage adaptations of 12 twelve popular short stories in Malayalam. The enactment of the first three plays of this series was held recently at TDM Hall, Kochi. The plays, which were adaptations of short stories by Asokan Charuvil, stood out for their direction and acting.
The first play, ‘Njaan Kallan’, was based on the short story ‘Randu Pusthakangal’, which tells the story of a thief and his encounters with an elderly couple, who are always at loggerheads.
The thief enters the couple’s house and the old woman, who has not been to church for three weeks, mistakes him for a well-wisher who has stopped by at the behest of the parish priest. She opens up about her sufferings to him. Then, her husband, who was once a firebrand political activist, also mistakes the thief for a party worker and shares his grief with him. Eventually, the thief befriends the couple and both of them present him their most valuable possessions – a Bible in the case of the old woman and the Communist Manifesto , by her husband. Though the twist at the end of the play is different from the original story, it takes the play to a new level. Sudhi Vattapini as the old woman, Jayachandran as the old man and Nimesh K.B. as the thief gave memorable performances.
‘Iruthala Moorkhan’ (Double-headed serpent), the second play based on the short story, ‘Malamukalile Velicham’ hinges on the theme of society’s double stand. It is about the dilemma of a middle-class former government employee, who is also a Leftist intellectual. He is forced by his wife to dismiss their driver, Chathukutty, who happens to be an old comrade. Chathukutty had refused to take the couple on a religious pilgrimage to Palani.
The sequences in the original story were shuffled to suit the theatre format and the story was narrated as a flash back. This created a better and stronger structure for the play and the creative inputs by the director made it all the more enjoyable.
The characters of the play were excellently portrayed by Balachandran (Master), Geethu Joseph (wife), Jayachandran (Chathukutty) and Sudhi Vattapini (newly engaged driver).
The third play ‘Viplavam Nambissan’ was based on the short story ‘Plasseriyile Kadavu’. Here also, the episodes were rearranged to suit the stage. Nambissan, a middle aged man and a youth, CN, meet on a ferry ride. Both have been released from prison, and quickly strike up a friendship. After a long gap, CN, now a Member of Parliament, comes to visit Nambissan, and is shocked to see that his friend is now an alcoholic, living in abject poverty. The play describes the predicament of political leaders who forget their past and old friends as their priorities change. Among the actors, Nimesh as CN and Jayachandran as Nambissan excelled.
The plays, directed by M. Vinod, stood out for music and lighting as well. With minimum props, the team managed to create maximum impact. The event was jointly organised by BEAME and Ernakulam Karayogam.
