A real theatre enthusiast would want to know what happens backstage. What kind of lives do the actors lead? How are plays conceived? What happens at rehearsals? “Naadagam”, the 62nd production of Y.Gee.Mahendra's United Amateur Artists (UAA), provides some of the answers.
The play opens in 1975 with Sabakaran, whose life revolves around his drama troupe. Saba's troupe is staging a historical drama about King Ashoka. Due to goof-ups by the group members, the play turns out to be a comedy instead! The audience is then transported to Saba's house. He asks his visibly irritated wife to prepare coffee and snacks for his troupe members who have come over for a rehearsal. She resents his obsession with the theatre.
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When Sabakaran and his associates get to know about the arrival of television in Madras, they are not too worried about it overshadowing theatre. Saba compares the bulb and the sun with television and drama, respectively. “ Ennathaan bulb vandhaalum, sooriyan velicham tharalaya?” he asks. But there are disappointments in store. The troupe is dismayed when there is a near empty hall for their play on Independence Day. The sabha secretary says it is because they are showing “Thillana Mohanambal” on TV that day. Saba wants to cancel the show, but a blind lady who is an ardent fan persuades him to go ahead with the play for the few present in the sabha .
Sabakaran's resentment towards the television increases when his brother-in-law gifts his wife with a TV. It is then that Sivaji Ganesan calls him up and invites him to act in films! But the true theatre devotee that he is, Saba declines the offer. He also rejects offers from Doordarshan, much to the chagrin of one of his troupe members (who eventually quits the team).
Post-interval, the character of Karthik (Saba's son) is introduced. Unlike his father, Karthik doesn't think too highly of drama. The scenes that follow are touching. There is one scene where a script-writer is being felicitated only because the organisers think he is dead!
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Soon, Saba is desperate for money. He reluctantly decides to give films a shot. The audience is subsequently treated to a hilarious sequence starring Subbini (as the director of the film) and Y.Gee. Mahendra.
On Saba's 68th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the troupe, the members decide to work on their latest production – “Vanchinathan”, a tale about a freedom fighter, who murders a British collector in the train and shoots himself before the police get to him. Saba spends days contemplating and working hard on his role as Vanchinathan. His son volunteers to take part in the drama too. Saba gives the performance of his life and in the climax shoots himself, with a real gun and dies onstage!
The sets are worthy of mention. The creative director shows the transition of time through the effective use of old and new tape recorders, telephones and even vessels in the kitchen (think stainless steel of the 70s and Tupperware of the 2000s)! The background score changes too, from Ilayaraja's songs to indicate the 80s, Rahman's for the 90s and a song from the latest “Yuddham Sei” to denote the present.
Heart warming, humourous and dark in turns, “Naadagam” was a wonderful way of revoking Tamil theatre. Produced by Madhu Enterprises, this play was staged as part of the first anniversary celebrations of Sasi Creative School of Business.