Madhu’s tryst with the stage

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, 01/08/2013: Actor Madhu in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: S. Gopakumar

Madhu’s contribution to Malayalam cinema has been duly recorded. What has gone unnoticed is his role in enriching Malayalam theatre. Reams and reams have been written about Madhu as an actor, director and producer, but there is hardly any mention about his contributions to the stage. In fact, it was his experience in theatre that seasoned him as an actor and helped perfect his histrionic skills.

Madhavan Nair, now popular as Madhu, is the author of several plays. He directed and also acted in key roles in these plays. His acting career began while at school and this passion intensified when he entered college. The first play in which he acted in college was Pookkari written by T.N. Gopinathan Nair. His performance in this play caught the eye of some professional drama troupes and opened the doors to this field. The first professional drama in which Madhu acted was Randidangazhi , while he was a final degree student. This was an adaptation of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s novel of the same title. Soon, Madhu became a busy stage actor working with many other professional troupes in and around Thiruvananthapuram. Azhimukhathekku , Aru Venam , Daivathinte Paricharakar were some plays in which Madhu played significant roles.

After his graduation Madhu joined Banaras Hindu University for his Masters. His life at Banaras can perhaps be divided into two phases. Along with his studies Madhu dabbled seriously in theatre. He wrote plays and organised Malayali friends from inside and outside the campus to stage them. The plays that he wrote while at Banaras were

Pukanja Kollikkal ,

Sannidhanathilekku ,

Maanam Irundu Mazha Peythilla ,

Gandhimargam , and

Nammalu Padupettathu Chumma . These plays were staged in Banaras and later in Thiruvananthapuram. At the drama festivals held at the University, Madhu won the best actor award two years in succession, in 1955 and 1956.

Madhu completed his Masters and returned to Thiruvananthapuram. He joined Scott Christian College, Nagarcoil. His zeal for writing plays and acting continued even when he worked as a lecturer. Soon, this passion overpowered all the other interests and Madhu quit his job to join the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.

Madhu secured a first rank at the NSD, helping him to ensure a seat in stage performance in the same institution for one more year. He was fortunate to be taught and trained by eminent professors of the time. Madhu was deeply influenced by the theories of Stanislavski and his acting methods. It was mandatory for a student of the special acting course to perform before experts. Madhu’s acting impressed stalwarts like Sambhu Mitra and Mamavarerkar.

The turning point in Madhu’s career happened just before he left Delhi. Noted director Ramu Kariat was in Delhi then to take part in a reception accorded in his honour by the Malayali association. Madhu, who was also there, got a chance to introduce himself and talk to Kariat. Kariat asked Madhu to come to Madras and meet him there. On his way back to Thiruvananthapuram, Madhu stopped for a couple of days in Madras where he even underwent a screen test. Kariat was happy with the results and decided to give Madhu a chance in his film

Moodupadam .

Madhu soon got his second film, Ninamaninja Kalppadukal . This film was released before Moodupadam . Madhu had arrived. From then on till today Madhu remains an integral part of Malayalam cinema. The actor whose beginnings were on the stage went on to rule the silver screen.