Ask anyone associated with television and they will tell you nothing sells as well as family drama. Even on stage, tales spun around family members go well with the audience. Actor S. Ve. Shekher’s latest offering, CMaa PMaaa, too has something to do with family.
The play will be unveiled on Monday at 7 p.m. at Narada Gana Sabha.
Asked if it has anything to do with politics, the actor-politician retorts, “Of course not. It is about a family where the elder son-in-law has the upper hand always.” But can he stay away from taking pot shots at politicians and politics? “Of course there will be dialogues that will have an underlying political current. The public also enjoys such one-liners. Most of it is spontaneous… even during the rehearsals we keep changing, much to the annoyance of my troupe members. Even on stage when someone stumbles during dialogue delivery others instantly step in to help. We don’t have prompters and every member is on his or her toes following every scene,” said the actor, who takes care to not repeat dialogues in any of his plays.
“The title was suggested by the sabhas. It is an old play performed nearly 35 years ago by another group called Kalanilayam. I got the story from the author P.D.R alias P.Durairaj and changed it to suit my style. It was first called Honeymoon in Hyderabad then Chinna Maaple- Periya Maaple and now CM aa PM aaa . The abridged version of this play was enacted before Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 1992. It was a felicitation by the Producers Council and Ms. Jayalalithaa enjoyed the 10-minute production” he explained.
The troupe has 24 plays to its credit and is presently working on its 25{+t}{+h}.
