Swami and Friends

The first novel of R.K. Narayan to gain international fame was Swami and Friends, the story of a young lad named Swami and his escapades with his two close friends, Rajam and Mani.

The Madras Players & Landing Stage (Chennai)

Directed by: Aruna Ganesh Ram

Adapted by Manasi Subramaniam from the novel by R. K. Narayan

Synopsis:

The first novel of R.K. Narayan to gain international fame was Swami and Friends, the story of a young lad named Swami and his escapades with his two close friends, Rajam and Mani. More than anything else, it is a story of friendship and camaraderie. Set in late pre-Independence India in the fictitious town of Malgudi, the novel has delighted both the old and the young with its characterisation and sense of humour. The play is conceived as a seamless narrative, faithful to the novel but adapted and directed with a fresh perspective. It promises to be a delight for the Narayan fan and Narayan novice alike!

Director's Quote:

"The challenge was in identifying the visual cues that would represent Malgudi, just the way it had been crafted by the author. The setting, in my opinion, is the most crucial element of the play."

About The Group:

The Madras Players, which celebrated its golden jubilee in 2005, is one of the oldest English theatre groups in India. It is now focussed on encouraging English plays on Indian themes.

Landing Stage is the only entirely youth-run theatre group in Chennai. It provides a platform for students to experience the nuances of theatre, hone their creative skills and pick up the finer aspects of theatre ? from managing operations, designing sets, learning lighting and sound essentials, and box-office handling.