In times of increasing incidence of persecution of Dalits and women, the modern reading of the Kali cult within the schemes of theatre would reflect these grim contemporary realities, critic M.K. Sanoo hoped before the play, Kaali Naatakam , debuted at Pepper House.
The production, it turned out, did just that.
Written by actor Sajitha Madathil and designed and directed by Chandradasan of Lokadharmi, the play took on the latent caste and gender discrimination, cleverly subverting questions of faith using the ritualistic theatre forms like Mudiyettu and Kaliyoottu.
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A piece of experimental theatre is what is going to be presented here, announced Mr. Sanoo, maintaining that the time has come for Kali to take on her fierce form.
“When Samuel Beckett was ready with his Waiting for Godot , an unorthodox play then, it had no takers. Eventually, it was presented in a jail. The reason was that it contained no female characters. The prison inmates who watched the play immediately identified themselves with it and it became a huge hit,” he said, calling upon everyone to give the experiment ‘word of mouth’ publicity.
The play presented the enactment of
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Kaali Naatakam flits in and out of the real and the mythical the scenes amalgamating real happenings with those in the realm of ritualistic myth. The murder of Darika is both real and figurative.
While the Brahminical edict is to settle the furious Goddess ensconced in an idol in a shrine, Kaali decides to walk off. “It’s said that they decide a place for us to settle, but it’s for us to decide whether or not to remain there,” says Kaali, firmly. “Kaali is not ready to shun her fiery form, nor will she settle down on a piece of stone”.
As theatre personality T.M. Abraham said, the experience is of ‘total theatre’, where music, acting, modern devices and some fine pieces of narration have blended to give a heady experience. It brings to mind some painful incidents that happened across the country in the recent past.
Sajitha trained under Mudiyettu guru Varanattu Narayana Kurup for three days as a resident to master the ‘payattu’ [fight] with Darika.
Paris Chandran’s music played a critical role in lifting the mood of the production.
Paid performances of the play for the public that began on August 19 will continue on 20th and 21st at 6 p.m. at Pepper House. Tickets can be booked online atwww.lokadharmi.org.
The experience is of total theatre where music, acting, modern devices and some fine pieces of narration have blended to give a heady experience.
T.M. Abraham
Theatre personality