On the horns of an artistic dilemma
SUGANTHY KRISHNAMACHARI
| Koothu To pursue or not to pursue… is the theme of Purisai Sambandam’s new production. |
Delightful: Lakshman’s Dream being visualised.
The scene is a koothu school, where one of the pupils has decided to quit, because he sees no future in Koothu.
His friends persuade him to remain, for they have a show coming up.
The teacher (Purisai Sambandam) shows them how to perform as monkeys in Rama’s army. But even as he rehearses for the show, the teacher dies. The grief-stricken students gather round him. The boy, who is to play the role of Lakshmana (Cordis Paldano), has a dream, in which he battles Yama, the God of Death, and finally vanquishes him.
Substitute the teacher for art, koothu to be specific, and the symbolism comes alive in “Lakshman’s Dream, But Today We Are Playing Indrajit,” at the Alliance Francaise on September 13 and 14. It was presented by Indianostrum Theatre in association with Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa Thambiran Parambarai Therukoothu Manram.
More a nightmare
Lakshman’s dream is therefore more in the nature of a nightmare. He manages to save his art in his dream. But is it as easy in real life?
The inroads that modern life has made into traditional/folk art are indeed deep. Can the onslaught be stopped through commitment alone? What can we do to preserve our arts from being overtaken? These are questions the play addresses and concedes that it is not easy to get the answers.
What happens when tradition is diluted and even distorted? How can people be sensitised to the purity of art? Shown when intrusions happen inflicting crudity on style? This is where a play like “Lakshman’s Dream” comes in. It shows the dangers of making a mockery of traditional art, in the desire for popularity. And holds out hope. It is a wake up call to those who are complacent in the belief that nothing can substantially affect an art, simply because it is centuries old.
Student’s questions
The questions that the disgruntled student asks in the beginning of the play are just the sort every student of an art, whether classical music or classical dance, is bound to ask himself at some point in his life. Will his art put food on the table? Can he completely ignore material considerations? Should he continue practising his art at all? And what happens if there is no audience appreciation?
Delightful: Lakshman’s Dream being visualised.
Cordis Paldano’s Tamil diction was perfect. None would ever guess that he can’t speak Tamil. Aswini Kasi and Gowri’s singing of the songs “Vandaal Dhaanyamalini” and “Mannar mannar vanangum” was peppy. Vasanth as the angry student and Kumar as Indrajith played their roles with aplomb. Munuswamy as Yama danced delightfully.
Catch ‘Lakshman’s Dream…’ at Kalakshetra, September 27, 10.30 a.m.
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