Students bring Malala Yousafzai’s story to stage

Kochi: She inspires them as a visionary and they all look to her words with great hope and are happy to recreate her historic life story in the magnificent world of theatre.

Nearly 150 students of Naipunya Public School, Thrikkakara, Kochi, have come together to create the drama ‘An angel with the wings of fire’ on the tumultuous life and times of Malala Yousafzai, the girl who today symbolizes the ‘little literary world’s’ fight against Talibanism.

After being shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen on October 9, 2012, for being upright towards the diktats of Taliban with her activism for rights to education, especially for women, Malala has been an inspiration worldwide in the fight against obscurantism.

The drama by the students resound Malala’s words: “Guns are not my weapon, but letters. I am here to speak for peace.” The drama made its first staging on Friday after extensive rehearsal for nearly a month.

“Since we wanted to recreate the riots, the exodus, the war, the Taliban militants and the people of Swat valley where Malala lived, we had to rope in 150 students to do the drama,” said Fr Benny Maramparambil, the principal of the school.

Renowned dramatist Satish K. Satish has done the script and direction of the drama. Sarath has done the art direction while Pradeep Tom has given music to the lyrics of Dhanya Stephen. “We have taken special care to convey the message that Isalm does not preach terrorism and respects women,” says Fr Benny.