This summer, if you are a Tamil-middle-of-the road theatre rasika, the event to be at is the 35th Kodai Nataka Vizha of Kartik Fine Arts. On till May 3. ( At Narada Gana Sabha hall till April 30, at MFAC sabha hall from May 1 to 3.)
Expect some slapstick, middle-class humour in most plays – going by the first play by Mappilai Ganesh’s Tamil play – Yamini En Kanmani – presented on April 22 by Satya Sai Creations and Ezhichur Aravindan.
Directors of the plays admit that people want to laugh and enjoy some clean fun. Though some take liberties of taking pot-shots at current politics too, and some are tight and engaging.
There are 12 plays and all will be new ones, as is the tradition of this festival. S. Anand’s Theatrix Stage Crafters is the only one who features for the first time in this fest. The regulars are featured in the line up – from Theatre Marina and Dummies Drama to Legally Yours and PMG Mayurapriya. The dramas are free, open to all.
Legally Yours’ Satish Chandrasekaran says he has designed a Vande Bharat train set for this new play due on April 25 / Saturday, and employed AI in visual projections on a screen.
“We need at least one lakh rupees to stag this play, with the grand sets, ” says Satish. “While we have some small sponsors, we would welcome more.”
Rasikas can review the plays and submit their entries and the best ones get prizes. Seats fill up fast so get in by 6.45 pm for seats in the front rows. Daily at 7 p.m.
Note / The Woodlands food joint in NGS campus serves sambhar vada and coffee, fastest – so dig in here before you get into the hall. Orders for dosas take time!
WATCH – snappy videos on some plays presented this far – https://www.instagram.com/mylapore_times/reels/
