KOZHIKODE: “Mahayanam,” a drama staged before a packed audience in Thikkodi on Saturday, marks the reinvention of the passion of old classmates of Government College, Koyilandy, for the theatre. The 20 odd former college-mates who studied 20 years back were active in theatre in college. After college life, they entered into various walks of life and the drive for theatre reunited them in the form of Mahayanam, an adaptation of Anand’s acclaimed novel Govardhante Yathrakal.
Melady Mohammad, a veteran playwright, created the script and Preman Muchukunnu, a civil police officer and an active theatre artist adjudged as the best theatre person by Union human resources ministry in 2012 for his work, Yayathi, directed it. Mr Muchukunnu’s other known works include Mrithunjayam, Lankalakshmi and Maamsaganitham.
“Besides the old college-mates, our kids are also acting in the drama. The one-hour-40-minutes show has encompassed the recent political turmoil of our times,” he said. Besides throwing light on the insatiable hunger of power harnessed system against the powerless, the drama stresses its focus on the latest happenings including the death of Rohit Vemula.
“Characters like Shankaracharya and Bharatendu Harishchandra appear on stage,” said Noorudheen, an artist. According to him, the screenplay incorporates the glorious struggles that take place in various forms across the country for the freedom of expression. Akhil Payyoli plays the main protagonist, Govardhan. Dineshan, Madhu Kuruvangad, Riyas, Pradeepan and Sreekumar are among actors.
