Vandichodai

Koothupattarai group will perform at The Hindu Theatre Fest 2016 in Chennai for N Muthuswamy’s ‘Vandi Chodai’ on Aug 28 at Museum Theatre.

A still from Vandichodai. Photo: Mohandas Vadakara

Vandichodai is an alchemical play written by

Padmashri N Muthuswamy.

Vandichodai means (Bullock) – Cart Tracks. It is a non-figurative play from beginning to end. Every step of this play shows much poetic qualities and precisely

Vandichodai is frozen music. The playwright N Muthusamy is successfully preserving its complexity, liveliness and dynamism. The spectators will find this play to be an open experimental laboratory with beautiful, mystic imageries.

The play opens with two strangers in front of a tree. One of them climbs the tree and stays there. A newcomer joins with the man standing under the tree. He claims that his age is above hundred. The man under the tree says that he also is above hundred.

Their chatting centers around antique medicinal healing studies. Traditionally, the Guru always conceals some medicinal secrets and doesn’t teach all that he knows to his students. Thus medical lessons are shortened and reduced as time passes by.

The man on the tree is a shepherd. Workers in such professions don’t have any specific qualities, and generations after generations they are taught only to work in their own field. Soldiers for battles, workers to pull the temple car and party cadres.

Metamorphosis also takes place! The shepherd reveals that he was once a lamb and was transformed into a human being. Fantasy has its role throughout the play.

The author insists that all these laborers have no different faces, but a similar face throughout history. Whether they are tar road workers or electrical workers, they don’t differ in any way. They are unaware of cultural identity. It is a game for survival. There scenes are relevant to any local situation in which one man is being exploited or oppressed by another.

Group: Koothupattarai Director: R P Rajanayahem Playwright: Padmashri N Muthuswamy Language: Tamil Time: 80 minutes

Director says:

"A thought provoking abstract play with magical brilliance of Padmashri N Muthuswamy. One can read and see this in any number of ways.

The Hindu Theatre Festivals helps to see diversity in plays because we live in a very diverse society. This festival will promote the morale of the actors and the efforts and ambitions of all forms of theatre activities."

The Cast:

N. Chandra Sekar, S. Anthony Arul Prakash, R. Baskar, A. Harish Ori, M. Ramesh Bharathi , R. Prasanna Ramkumar , D. Mohammed Umar , Santhosh Sellam , Kamal Deep

> Tickets for all shows can be purchased online here

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The Hindu Theatre Fest 2016

The Title Sponsor of the event is YES BANK. The Associate Sponsors are Kauvery Hospital, Hindustan International School and Telangana Tourism. The Hospitality Partner is Taj Coromandel. The Mall Partner is Phoenix Market City (Chennai). The Mobility Partner is Ola. The gift partner is Terra Earthfood. The Radio Partner is Radio City 91.1. The Merchandise Partner is Focus Art Gallery and the Event Manager is evam.