For lovers of Russian literature in the city, this Saturday offers a treat.
A Tamil play on Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevesky’s life, scripted by S. Ramakrishnan, is to be staged at the Russian Cultural Centre.
Called Dostoyevsky’s Nizhalgal or Dostoyeveky’s Shadows , the play is to be performed by Theatre Lab, directed by Jayarao Ch.
This is the first time a Tamil play based on the author’s life is to be staged in Chennai, said P. Thangappan, secretary general, Indo Russian Cultural and Friendship Society.
Why Dostoyevsky? “The problems and struggles he wrote about are still relevant today,” said Mr. Ramakrishnan.
“I am a big fan of the legendary author,” he added. The play, he explained, would be in four acts, covering the time from Dostoyevsky’s arrest for being involved a progressive movement, up until his release and his efforts to write about his experiences.
Dostoyevsky, whose major works include The Idiot , Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov , served four years in exile with hard labour at a prison camp in Siberia between 1850 and 1854. After his release, he wrote The House of the Dead , portraying the life of convicts.
“There was no proper food there, no proper hospital. At Christmas, the convicts got together to attempt to stage a play — and this is something we are showing, so there will be a play within the play,” Mr. Ramakrishnan, who has spoken widely about the author, said.
Translations of Dostoyevsky’s works are available in Tamil, said Mr. Ramakrishnan, but “I wanted people to get to know about his life,” he said.
The plan is to eventually take the play to other cities in the State too, he said.
The State’s connection to Russian literature goes back a long way. Readers of literature here were exposed to the writings of well-known Russian writers, including Dostoyevsky, through the cheap but high-quality editions that used to be brought out by Progressive Publishers.
The copies in English were available with the New Century Book House even many years after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics before finally disappearing from the shelves.
The play is free and passes are available at the centre between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
(With inputs from
B. Kolappan)
