After a hiatus, Malayalam theatre is witnessing resurgence with more creative people experimenting with diverse subject matters as well as different presentation styles. With the Kerala theatre entering a positive phase, new theatre groups which can boast of real talents are mushrooming.
Launching his theatre group ‘Kapila’ in January 2016 in Kochi after ending his expat life, Sujith Kollam was confident of the signals of revival in Malayalam theatre.
“ I have been active in theatre for a couple of decades and I can see a visible change in the sector. New actors, directors and groups perform both contemporary issues and traditionally tried-and-tested topics with equal seriousness and ease. However, unlike cinema or tele soaps, theatre is still not a lucrative business here,” says Sujith.
As the Kapila group is all set to stage the Shakespear’s masterpiece Hamlet through an innovative multimedia projection and 3D effects, Sujith, the designer and director of the play, is confident of success.
“As I wanted to stage Our Hero Hamlet in a unique way, I have been researching on Hamlet for the more than a year. Since I was confident of identifying new talents, I have avoided the experienced professionals as actors, though it was a challenge,” he says. A group of youngsters working in different fields such as media, IT, management and other sectors have been selected and the rehearsals are on full swing.
The play will be first staged in Kochi in May. Sujith also plans to send Our Hero Hamlet to national and international theatre festivals. It will be a visual extravaganza with flamboyant sets, visual effects and light and sound effects, the director adds.
From 2008 to 2011, while working in Bahrain, Sujith owned a theatre group called Arangu. After he returned to Kerala in 2011, he joined the noted ‘Lokadharmi’ group of Chandradasan, scripted and directed nearly 10 plays and did five solo performances. Some of his solo plays Avicharitham, Kalivilakku and Ennu Swantham received critical acclaim. He also got trained in various aspects of theatre from Dr. Terry Converse, Professor in World Theatre at University of Washington. Sujith also worked with Dr. Sanchayan Ghosh at Shanti Nikethan, Kolkata.
The main characters of Our Hero Hamlet are done by A.P Akhil, Nirmal Nellickal, Paul James, Smitha Njattiala Krishnan, Nanma Manika, Thomas Kutty, Dev Krishnan, Cyril Yohannan, Shahbaz, Naveen Pothenchery, Sooraj Manalitharayil and Preejith KJ. The music is composed by Shibin (Dreams Bahrain) and PMR Ali. Other crew members are Abhilash (coordinator), Jolly Antony (lights), Sachin Basi (technical support) and Moin Khan (team manager).
