Anger is described as a negative emotion. But when warranted, there is no harm in showing it. This was well conveyed in the play ‘Rowthiram Pazhagu’ by LDC students recently.
Despite stringent laws, atrocities against women continue unabated if the recent Namakkal incident is any indication. Taking inspiration from Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharati, an advocate of women empowerment, the students of Tamil Department, staged the play to sensitise and encourage people to react to the injustice meted out to women.
The play, staged on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of Nija Nataka Iyakkam, started with a group of girls rehearsing for a drama and showed the common practice of discrimination between a son and a daughter by the parents in many homes. The girl who is brilliant in studies is discouraged to pursue higher education whereas her younger is allowed the freedom to do whatever he wants. The scene then shifts to a family where the mother cries inconsolably for giving birth to a girl child.
The girl who dons the role of the director in the play intervenes and points to the social malady and asks the characters to voice their concern vehemently.
The rehearsals culminate with a story from Mahabharata, about Amba, the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi, who considers Bhishma responsible for her misfortune. During her swayamvara, Bhishma abducts her with her two sisters Ambika and Ambalika, because he wants them to marry his step brother Vichitravirya, the king of Hastinapur. But Amba loves the King of Salva and when she tells Bhishma about her love, he lets her go. Unfortunately, her lover rejects her because he is crest fallen and feels he has no say over her. An infuriated Amba blames her father, Bhishma,and the king of Salva for ruining her life.
The director of the play raises a lot of questions through the voice of the Kattiyankaran (the link between the audience and the characters on stage). Swayamvara, where the woman is said to have the freedom to choose her husband, actually turns out to be yet another exhibition of man’s valour to win the girl.
The Kattiyankaran portrays how the skills of women are blunted by the society and calls for concerted efforts to stimulate the dormant talent in them.
The play conceptualised and scripted by veteran theatre personality Mu. Ramasamy captures the problems women face in the society.
“In fact, the teachers wanted my ‘Viyabharamayanam’ play to be enacted but I wanted to evolve a new script as majority of them are new to stage. We came out with this play after series of discussions. It is a combined effort and I just compiled what we discussed and brought those points into a framework,” says Mu. Ramasamy.
The bunch of first timers showed no signs of nervousness and came out with a neat performance. In fact, they are happy that acting is included in their curriculum. They say while the transition from being part of the audience to being on the stage is exhilarating, an intense interest in drama has now been fuelled in them following the tremendous response to their show.
