The main auditorium of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was packed on Wednesday, July 9 evening. Most guests had a fill of the high tea the Bhavan treated them to. The curtains were down.
Then, there was a buzz. The curtains went up, the sets of thatched huts for the opening play, ‘Thanneer Thanner’ were seen and a signboard for the occasion was placed in front of them. Seemed to be a small change in plan.
This was the evening to honour the memory of celebrated theatre-person, film director and arts patron, late K. Balachander on his 96th birth anniversary. The award called Iyakkunar Singaram K. Balachander Memorial Award, an annual one instituted by Kavithalayaa T. Krishnan, a KB mentee, was given to veteran theatre-person TV Varadarajan, just back from a two-month performance tour of USA.
Varadarajan had a flurry of KB anecdotes to share even as theatre director Dharini Komal signalled from the flanks that it was time to start her play for the evening.
“I would make three copies of the script of a new play, place them at the sannidhi of the Vinayaka Temple off Warren Road, then give one to Balachander sir, one to ‘Karthik’ Rajagopal and keep one for my use. Balachander would read the script, call me and offer suggestions and appreciate the parts he liked.”
Many seniors in the theatre world were present at the event. Bhavan’s theatre fest in on till July 12; plays start at 6.30 p.m. and are open to all. ( Photo above is of ‘Thanneer Thanneer’play )
Today, July 10, is ‘Leela Vinodham’: the play that won best play award in the recent Kodai Nataka Vizha. ( photo below)
