There are 37 chapters in ‘Thakshankunnu Swaroopam’ the Vayalar award-winning novel of U.K. Kumaran. Theatre persons believe that each of these chapters could be adapted into a play. Add to it the dramatic narrative style of Mr. Kumaran, it was only a matter of time before the novel was adapted for the stage.
The first ever stage adaptation of ‘Thakshankunnu Swaroopam’ was presented at the Town Hall in Kozhikode on Monday evening by a group of people from Thakshan Kunnu, as a tribute to the writer on the occasion of the release of the deluxe edition of the novel.
The 80-minute stage adaptation featured the novel in its entirety though a few characters and scenes were eliminated. It was written and directed by K.V.Sasikumar, a teacher at Government U.P. School in Thakshan Kunnu. Sound mixing by R.T. Asokan, another teacher of the school, played an important role in the stage adaptation.
“We call it a stage adaptation because it is not really a play. This novel will make a play that would be as long as three hours. This adaptation was formed in just nine days,” the director said.
The adaptation represents the life of Ramar, the central character, in three stages by three different actors. Besides him, 28 other characters come on stage. No professional actors were roped in, as most of the characters were being delivered by the native people of Thakshan Kunnu and nearby villages. A few children from nearby schools too had played some roles.
Mahatma Gandhi and K. Kelappan, known as Kerala Gandhi, come as prominent characters in the novel as well as the stage adaptation. The nationalist movement and the change in society after Independence are the major themes.
Earlier, K. Kelappan’s grandchildren Nandakumar Moodadi and Ammini Amma released the deluxe edition of the novel. Former MLA M.P. Abdul Samad Samadani released a study of the novel edited by Pradeep Kumar Kattod.
Historian M.G.S. Narayanan, who had written the preface for the novel, presided over the programme. Besides Mr. Kumaran, writers Kalpetta Narayanan and Khadeeja Mumtaz were present.
