Rarely do we get to see plays of children donating their organs to other needy children. With the intention of promoting this culture even among children, Guru Raja Concept School of Nandyala, collaborating with a theatre unit Kalaradhana of the same place presented a play ‘Nimajjanam’ at Ravindrabharati’s Ghantasala Pranganam, last week, marking A.R.Krishna’s Jayanthi celebrations. The theatre unit had won a gold medal for their play ‘Jaya Jaya Jayahe’ at the Nandi Natakotsavam last year in Vijayanagaram.
Nimajjanam is their latest production written by B.Kamalakar of Kanigiri and directed by Dr. G. Ravikrishna. It is set in a Home for destitutes whose inmates are orphan children picked up from dustbins and other places, unaware of who their parents are. This Anadha Saranalayam was launched by Nirmalamma, a social reformer, whose statue we find on the backstage.
The play opens to show children engaged in Vinayaka Chaviti celebrations. The home is located in a serene atmosphere, surrounded by trees with birds. The moment the birds notice Ganga, they flock to the tree where she feeds them. It is revealed later that she has brain tumor that she is not aware of. Then we find a blind girl, named Navya moving around with the help of others. We then find three ailing children — Nookaraju having a kidney problem and Nagaraju with heart problem. These children are being looked after by a manager. He appeals to one veersam, an organ supplier to provide the organs needed by the ailing inmates. Veeresam demands money, but finally sells the organs to someone else for monetary gain.
Meanwhile, Ganga goes into the care of a person named as ‘paper mamayya’, a journalist. The doctor she is taken to says she may survive just for three months. Only then Ganga realises her days are numbered and pleads to donate her organs to her ailing friends in the home. He also says she is ready to donate her organs to the other children suffering from different ailments.
She passes away and each of the organs is transplanted to them, saving them from possible death. Thus she lives on in them. In a masterstroke of symbolism some birds fed by Ganga are shown to flock even after her death sensing Ganga’s organs in these children. The play ended with how it would be if organ donor organizations come to the rescue of helpless children. The play was a sentimental drama showing children sharing their problems and consoling each other. The children who presented this show are from standards VIto IX. Notable performances were by P.Nilofer portraying Ganga, Ranjit Kumar as Narayana, Gayatri as Navya, Indrakshi Naidu as Nagaraju and Lingamayya as Nookaraju. Kamalkumar’s role as manager was brief but interesting. Music was provided by P.D.Prasad. The major attraction was the setting, with pictures of trees and birds, undertaken by Prasad, Veerayya, Venkateswarlu and Janardan.
