The excitement is evident in C. Vishnu’s voice. “I am looking forward to watching the drama competition at the State School Arts Festival at Palakkad,” says the 18-year-old, during a short break from his work at a car showroom in suburban Kozhikode, where he polishes cars.
Vishnu had won the prize for the best actor in successive years at the State School Arts Festival in 2010 and 2011.
His school, GHSS, Thiruvangoor (Kozhikode), had bagged the place for the best play too in those years.
“Yes, I still am passionate about acting and my dream is to be a theatre actor, but I do not get much time now because of my work,” says Vishnu, who had to stop studying after passing Plus Two examinations. “I had to get a job so that my younger brother could study.”
Recalling his School Arts Festival days, he says it was his teacher, Sivadas Poyilkavu, who directed both the plays (‘Aatho Poratho’ and ‘Pachilaplavu’) that fetched him the awards. “He is dedicated,” he says. “I enjoyed doing both the plays, though my roles were not easy to pull off. Sivadas helped me a lot. He has invited me to watch the festival at Palakkad, as his plays are in the competition.”
Sivadas rates Vishnu highly. “I have worked with many children, and I could say that he is easily the most talented actor I have come across,” he says. “I am working on a script for a one-actor play for him, as he is desperate to act again. I hope he retains his passion always.”
