Vijayan V. Nair / K.K. Ajith Kumar
If the Kozhikode life as seen in the novel is to be the same, then the vehicles of that time are needed. Bullock carts and cycle rickshaws were used in those days. Where does drama get all this?
interview
Vijayan V Nair | Photo: P.P. Binoj | Matrubhumi
LoKasanchariya S.K. Director Vijayan V. to dramatize Potekkat’s ‘Oru Streetin Katha’. The time when Nair came together. It was certain that just a stage was not enough when trying to bring the novel, which captures the life of Mithaitheru and Kozhikode as it is, to the confines of the stage. All the way from Mithaitheru to Puthiyara with SK’s ‘Chandrakanta’ should be summoned to the arena. It needs an arena without boundaries. If the Kozhikode life as seen in the novel is to be the same, then the vehicles of that time are needed. Bullock carts and cycle rickshaws were used in those days. Where does drama get all this?
A bullock cart was arranged from Palakkad. I got an old unused cycle rickshaw from Kozhikode. It was arranged to be painted and repaired. A tram type car with doors on both sides in front is next. That was also confirmed. However, it could not be used in the play.
What is the reason? Akatha director Vijayan V. Nair will say: “When all the preparations were over, demonetisation came suddenly. And then everything fell apart. Everything was avoided including the bullock cart from Palakkad. It was decided that the play would be presented on the stage itself. Parijancherry Govt. The play performed in the school yard was well received by the audience. However, if it was not for the sudden demonetisation, the experience level of that play would have been different” says the director.
Vijayan V. This is the fiftieth year of Nair’s acting career. He directed 106 plays. The policy is not to act in a directed play. If you ask why, the answer is: “Prof. G. Shankarapillai is my guru. He taught me not to act in a directed play. When I act, someone else directs.”
Why did you decide to direct a massive novel like ‘Teruv Katha’?
At first I thought it could be any short story or play by SK. Then it was decided that it was not enough. I was furious that the people of Kozhikode were forgetting SK. His son Jayachandran and I studied together at St. Joseph’s Boys School, Kozhikode. Although I was able to meet and talk to SK in person at that time, it was only later after reading books that I understood his stature properly. Who was S.K. I wanted to remind Kozhikode again. That’s why ‘Theru Katha’ with many characters and events was chosen. M.K. The play was written by Ravi Varma. It is the 100th drama I have directed.
It has been fifty years in the arena. How was the beginning?
In 1972, the play ‘Trishna’ was staged in Kozhikode by a group of young people called ‘Yuk’ (Youth Organization of Calicut). We were the advocates of modern amateur plays. Plays have been done by directors who studied at the School of Drama. Shyamaprasad, Jose Chirammal, V.M. The dramas of Vinu and others have been staged like that. KR Through his closeness with Mohandas, he joined the theater group ‘Aniyara’. After his experiences in Uk and Aniyara, he formed his own amateur drama committee called ‘Kaliyorukkum’.
It was a time when people with no acting experience showed courage. right?
38 dramas were staged through ‘Kaliyarukka’. People who knew nothing about drama like labourers, fishermen and drivers were cast in theatrical jobs. Not only acting, but from curtain lifting to playwriting, everyone took turns. The method was to give training in everything. ‘Pakarnatham’ for which I won the Kerala Sangeet Nadaka Academy Award for Best Actor was created through play preparation. Many have grown up through it. We cannot forget Biju Mavillikadav, a potter. He wrote and directed his own plays and is no more. I came to professional plays while working in amateur plays. He has done plays for KPAC, Sangamam Theaters etc.
Sex workers are also taught acting?
More than 2000 workshops have been conducted for theater training. Five day camps were conducted for male and female sex workers. It was part of a government-led programme. Many were crying when the camp was over. It may be a reaction to receiving unprecedented attention. No one bothers to look inside them.
Kunummal Velayudhan in ‘Paleri Manikya’ is a role that is still remembered by the audience. What happened next in the movie?
It was a great opportunity to act in a prominent role with Mammootty in that film directed by Ranjith. Ranjith also gave an opportunity in the films ‘Indian Rupee’ and ‘Pranchiyetan’. However, it is true that he did not get that many roles later. The truth is that even though I have acted in about thirty films, including in Tamil and Hollywood (Backwaters), I don’t know the tricks to succeed in films and keep getting good opportunities. That is the reason why there is no character standing with Velayudham.
New dramas?
Directing two plays. ‘Janaki has something to say’ and ‘Manyashree Chatan’. Chatan is a one-act play.
Wife: Asalatha. Children: Dr. Deepti, Chitra.
Content Highlights: actor vijayan v nair interview, paleri manikyam actor vijayan v nair theater memories
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