Lokadharmi

Kerala - Kochi

Remembering a poet

Of late, the Stage and Screen programmes of the theatre group, Lokadharmi, had been limited to the screenings alone. The group is rather busy these days preparing for their next major production to be staged in July — the Malayalam adaptation of the French play written by Alfred Jarry, Ubu Roi, (the King Ubu). The team of Lokadharmi has Arjith Babu and Nandini R. Nair in the lead roles. The play is expected to be staged by the second week of July, according to its director, Chandradasan.

Meanwhile, the Stage & Screen programmes are being continued with screenings alone. On Wednesday, a documentary on poet Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Ormayil Changamppuzha, will be screened. The documentary, directed by Unnikrishnan, tries to explore the poetry and personality of the late legendary poet who belonged to Edappally. It is made in the format of a documentary-fiction. The poet's daughter and grandson share their memories.

Actors are used to recreate moments from the poet's life. Members of Lokadharmi and the children's theatre group, Mazhavillu, have acted in the film. Sebastian, a young actor from Lokadharmi, plays the role of Changampuzha Krishna Pillai. Lakshmi, Govind Nambiar and others also act in the film.

The film is of 25 minutes duration. The screening will be held at 6.30 p.m. at Changampuzha Park, Edapally. It will be followed by the screening of Subarnarekha, the much-celebrated movie directed by Ritwik Ghatak.

The 1965 classic film by Ghatak explores the strife-torn lives of the people during the partition of Bengal.
Renu Ramanath

(The Hindu, Wednesday, June 28, 2006)