Thiruvananthapuram: The day after 'My Saviour', the story of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, was premiered in the capital city on Friday, its creator, Soorya Krishnamoorthy, has been flooded with commendations. Maybe this is his magnum opus-India's largest Bible stage to date, with around 200 artistes, trained sheep and camels doing their roles on 20 cents (8,712 sq ft) on the premises of Salvation Army School. DC catches up with a few personalities who enjoyed the epic stage show.
It was spectacular. It was done with such care that even minute details have been studied and reproduced. It is a really monumental work and I recommend everyone in our society see it. The kind of effort Krishnamoorthy has taken in the realization of the project has paid off remarkably. Artistes’ enthusiasm and involvement are evident in their spotless performance. Let us congratulate Krishnamoorthy for this enviable feat. Songs and dances were also high calibre. I don’t think anyone has ever attempted such a show before in our country. Technological facilities have been utilized in a magnificent way. I would say that even the uninitiated should see such a marvellous rendition.
Filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Enthralling audiovisual, creative and spiritual experience. In dramatic techniques, it explores new grounds in coordinated use of space multi-dimensionally on the stage as well as along the aisle. All of us in the audience felt we were not mere viewers, but active witnesses and participants in the tumultuous events amid us. The music and words were intensely captivating. The storyline was also maintained with superb ease and continuity with universal appeal. Call it sheer magic.
Krishnamoorthy has brought out the eastern connection, unlike the way Christ is often portrayed in the west, which is historically incorrect. He has tried to explore the oriental route to Christianity and given attention to the eastern ascetic and mystic traditions. The 3D effect of crucifixion comes along marvellously well. Greatest Show Ever Seen...
Ex-DGP Jacob Punnoose
This is about the embodiment of love that changed the course of history, from punishment to the path of redemption. Amazing! Divine events have been lyrically woven into the dance-drama form. The care and effort invested in realising the work calls for the highest commendation. Each and every artiste and technician, part of the work, deserves unalloyed praise. Usually, in portraying the Bible, our hierarchy or priests will make it religious. The ultimate aim of the religion is spirituality, humanism. Jesus Christ has never taught religion, he was a Jew who always questioned the Jewish religion. The Law of Moses (New Testament) was uncompromising and rigid. Moorthy has portrayed Christ as a ‘saviour’ and not as a ‘reformer’.
Literator George Onakkoor
A remarkable feat that Soorya Krishnamoorthy alone could have accomplished among all Malayalis of our generation. The artistes and Moorthy were on a spiritual pilgrimage with prayers and fasting as they rehearsed. Many scenes were touching. In two scenes, crucial for Judas and Peter, I wept without realising tears rolling down. Jesus Christ telling his chosen disciple, Judas, “you may go ahead and betray me, whatever you wish to do, do it fast”. I have always felt that, ‘a good soul astray, Judas was probably unhappy with the slow progress Jesus was making in establishing the Kingdom of God’. That parting and going away from the stable of God, Judas came as a disciple, friend and finally when Jesus says you go ahead if you are unhappy, he is not rushing away.
That split second where Krishnamoorthy’s actor ably portrayed the internal agony made me cry automatically. St. Paul has said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do”. This man’s conflict was brought out so well and it set me thinking, “how many times have I betrayed and been unfaithful to God”. Secondly, my eyes became moist when Peter says, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” and Christ replies, “This very night before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times”.
Social commentator D. Babu Paul
