On a wintry morning recently, theatre artistes decked in costumes of Lord Siva and Vishnu in reminiscence of the Father of Tamil theatre Sankaradas Swamigal, who breathed his last in Puducherry, stood at Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple. Accompanied by percussion instruments, the theatre artistes from across Tamil Nadu walked in procession towards Karuvadikuppam cremation ground.
The occasion marked the 95th death anniversary of Sankaradas Swamigal, a theatre thespian who died in Puducherry at the age of 55.
In the air filled with petrichor and music at the Karuvadikuppam cremation ground, where he was cremated, the procession moved in the light drizzle towards Sankaradas Swamigal memorial. They paid homage to the icon who crafted history in Tamil musical drama.
Amidst the sound of music from the stage and procession, the ostensive fear of diminishing popularity of musical drama could not be missed. Nearly 150 artistes from Pudukottai Muthamizh Nadaga Nadigar Sangam and at least 50 from Madurai Tamil Nadu Nadaga Nadigar Sangam were present to pay homage to the playwright, actor, song writer and drama producer.
‘Performing with fear’
Their apprehension over the survival of the musical drama which Sankaradas Swamigal introduced in Tamil Nadu was apparent as they shared with anguish, the decreasing opportunities and declining interest of the audience. “We are scared to train the next generation of artistes who would carry forward his legacy as the opportunities are less. Though there are very few youngsters, they are performing with fear. Even we do not want our children to suffer,” said N. Indrani, Rajanadigai in Pudukottai Muthamizh Nadaga Nadigar Sangam.
Remembering a legend: Theatre artistes taking out procession on the 95th death anniversary of theatre pioneer Sankaradas Swamigal in Puducherry; Minister of Revenue M.O.H.F. Shahjahan releasing a book on Sankaradas Swamigal as actor Nasser receives it.
Her counterpart A.R. Siddhanadharadded that the importance bestowed on Carnatic music and musical drama is coming down. “We are managing to stage 50 plays,” he said. He said that their Sangam only stages plays written by Sankara Swamigal.
Puducherry Manila Kalai Ilakkiya Peru Mandram has been observing the death anniversary of Sankara Swamigal in Puducherry since 1956. The Government of Puducherry has also come forward to support the event.
South Indian Film Artistes’ Association President Nasser called on the artistes to take responsibility to modernise the musical drama introduced by Sankara Swamigal. “When I compare cinema with that of Sankaradas Swamigal’s work, the beginning of Tamil cinema was with theatre. Cinema was dependent on theatre in the initial years. Sankaradas Swamigal gave the first modern theatre form to Tamil Nadu. Till then there were no stages; theatre was performed on the streets. It was from here that the first generation of cinema actors came. Though he was not associated with cinema, if not for him, today’s cinema would have gone back by 50 years,” he said.
Modernisation plans
He said that the Association was planning to modernise all the original works of Swamigal. “We cannot be stable without any roots. Without roots, we will become formless and without identity,” he said.
Minister for Revenue M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, M.K. Raman, president, Puducherry Manila Kalai Illakiya Peru Mandram, South Indian Film Artistes’ Association vice president Ponvannan and film director T.P. Gajendran were present.
