Malayalam drama
Malayalam drama, known as Natakam (നാടകം) in
Early history
Sanskrit era
The elements of drama can be found in various performing arts of Kerala such as
Musical dramas
The interest in Sanskrit dramas did not last long. The musical dramas were getting popular in Tamil Nadu and made its way into Kerala too. Some of the earliest notable works of this type in Malayalam include Sangeeta Naishidham by T. C. Achutha Menon, Sadarama by K. C. Kesava Pillai and Balagopalan by Kuttamath.[7] The music dramas of Malayalam were essentially modelled on the Tamil prototype. The Tamil musical dramas were mostly filled with long drawn-out songs and had little importance for prose dialogue. Malayalam musical dramas deviated in style and tried to conserve some measure of dramatic propriety.[8] The interest in musical dramas did not sustain for long as people demanded something more realistic.[7] Nevertheless, the tradition survives even now in a masked form, in the liberal use of songs in popular types of theatrical production.[8] Manomohanam Company (Thiruvattar Narayana Pillai) and Rasikaranjini (Chambathil Chathukutty Mannadiyar) were famous theatre groups in Kerala.[9]
Western influence
The first translation of a Shakespearian play to appear in Malayalam was Almarattam (1866) by
Original plays in Malayalam
A few original plays were written in Malayalam during the last quarter of the 19th century. This includes Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran's Lakshanasangam, Naduvath Achan Nambuthiri's Bhagavadduth (1892), Polachirakkal Kocheeppan Tharakan's Mariamma Natakam and Kochunni Thampuran's Kalyani Natakam (1889). Munshi Ramakurup wrote Chakkichankaram in mockery of the rise of vernacular plays in Malayalam. Sarasakavi K. C. Narayanan Nambiar composed another satirical play in Malabar also titled Chakkichankaram.[11]
Early-mid 20th century
Post-independence
Pulimana Parameswaran Pillai's Samatvavadi written in an expressionist style can be said to be the harbinger of a change in Malayalam drama.[13] C. J. Thomas and C. N. Sreekantan Nair, who can be called the pioneers of modern Malayalam drama, came to the scene after Parameswaran Pillai. Thomas's Avan Veendum Varunnu, 1128-il Crime 27 and Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne, and Nair's Ramayana trilogy—Kanchana Sita, Saketham and Lankalakshmi—clearly reoriented the Malayalam theatre world. G. Sankara Pillai, N. N. Pillai etc. further developed this stream.[13] One-act plays and radio plays emerged in the 1940s. K. Ramakrishna Pillai and N. N. Pillai were the pioneers of one-act plays. Important writers of radio play include S. K. Nair, Ananda Kuttan, P. Bhaskaran, Vira Raghavan Nair, C. N. Sreekantan Nair, Nagavally R. S. Kurup, Jagathy N. K. Achary and Edasseri Govindan Nair.[16]
As part of introducing the new experiments in western theatre to Malayalam, several ancient Greek plays were translated into Malayalam. C. J. Thomas is the most important of the translators. Renowned as a playwright, dramatist and critic, he translated Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Antigone, and Aristophanes' Lysistrata into Malayalam. Euripides' Alcestis was translated by S. K. Nair as Pati Devata and Medea was translated by Puthussery Ramachandran. Aristophanes' The Frogs was translated by E. M. J. Venniyoor as Thavalakal. Greek drama translations have crucial importance in the history of Malayalam drama.[17]
Although indigenous drama (Thanathu Nataka Vedi) was formed during the days of C. N. Sreekantan Nair, Kavalam Narayana Panicker's works widened its scope. Dramas like Karinkutti, Kalathini, Avanavan Kadamba, Daivathar and Kaikutappadu belong to this trend.[13] Vayala Vasudevan Pillai (Kuchelagatha, Varavelppu, Kalapporu, Yatra), P. M. Taj (Ravunni, Kudukka, Mary Lawrence, Rajavinte Chenda), P. J. Antony (Inquilabinte Makkal, Nilaykatha Ganam), Thikkodiyan (Jivitam, Punyatheertham, Pushpavrishti, Theepori), P. Balachandran (Pavam Usman, Samarayilekk), Narendra Prasad (Ira, Souparnika, Marthandavarma Engane Rakshapettu), Vasu Pradeep(Smarakam, Kannadi Kashanangal, Thazhum Thakkolum), Civic Chandran (Kurisu Yuddham Thudangunnavar, Ningal Aare Communist Akki), Jayaprakash Kuloor (Appunnikalude Radio, Nayattu, Velichenna), K. V. Sreeja (Ororo Kalathilum, Kalyana Saree), M . Sajita (Matsyagandhi, Beauty Parlour) and N. Sasidharan (Charitragatha, Udampadi Kalam (co-written with E. P. Rajagopalan), Kelu (co-written with E. P. Rajagopalan), Ravanan Kota) are some important playwrights of the later period.[13]
Theatre groups
Manomohanam Company (Thiruvattar Narayana Pillai) and Rasikaranjini (Chambathil Chathukutty Mannadiyar) were famous theatre groups in Kerala during the early period of Malayalam drama.
Navasamskara Samithi was formed in
In 1956, a theatre group called Kalavedi was formed with N. Krishna Pillai as president and
Playwrights
The following is a list of dramatists and playwrights in Malayalam.
- A. Santha Kumar
- C. J. Thomas
- C. L. Jose
- C. N. Sreekantan Nair
- C. V. Raman Pillai
- Cherukad
- E. V. Krishna Pillai
- G. Sankara Pillai
- Ibrahim Vengara
- Jagathy N. K. Achary
- K. T. Muhammed
- K. Thayat
- Kainikkara Kumara Pillai
- Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai
- Kavalam Narayana Panicker
- Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai
- N. Krishna Pillai
- N. N. Pillai
- N. N. Pisharody
- N. P. Chellappan Nair
- Narendra Prasad
- Ochira Velukkutty
- Omchery N. N. Pillai
- P. Balachandran
- P. Kesavadev
- P. M. Taj
- Ponkunnam Varkey
- S. L. Puram Sadanandan
- Surasu
- T. M. Abraham
- Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
- Thikkodiyan
- Thoppil Bhasi
- Thuppettan
- Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair
- Vayala Vasudevan Pillai
Major works
Some of the important plays in Malayalam drama include:[22][23]
- Historical plays
- Sitalakshmi, Raja Kesavadas, Iravikuttippillai — E. V. Krishna Pillai
- Kalvariyile Kalpa Padapam, Velu Thampy Dalava — Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai
- Humorous plays and farces
- Kaimalassante Kadassikkai (1915), Pandathe Pachan (1918), Butler Pappan (1922) — C. V. Raman Pillai
- B. A. Mayavi, Pranayakkamishan, Mayamanushan, Pennarasunad — E. V. Krishna Pillai
- Nilavum Nizhalum, Parivartanam, Akavum Puravum — T. N. Gopinathan Nair
- Social plays
- Mariyamma Natakam — Kocheeppan Mappillai
- Adukkalayil Ninnum Arangathekku (1929) — V. T. Bhattathiripad
- Ritumati — M. P. Bhattathiripad
- Marakkudakkullile Maha Narakam (1927) — M. R. Bhattathiripad
- Bhagnabhavanam, Kanyaka and Balabalam — N. Krishna Pillai
- Tharavaditham — Cherukad
- Ithu Bhoomiyanu — K. T. Muhammed
- Political plays
- Pattabakki — K. Damodaran
- Pratima, Vellappokkam — K. Ramakrishna Pillai
- Ningalenne Communistakki (1952), Innale Innu Nale, Mudiyanaya Puthran — Thoppil Bhasi
- Nammalonnu, Swatantra — Cherukad
- Jnanippam Communistavum, Pradhana Mantri, Munnottu — P. Kesavadev
- Koottu Krishi (1940) — Edasseri Govindan Nair
- Jethakkal and Visarikku Katu Venda — Ponkunnam Varkey
- Inquilabinte Makkal — P. J. Antony
References
- ^ George, K. M. (1968). A survey of Malayalam literature (1st ed.). Bombay: Asia Publishing House. p. 191.
- Trivandrum: Department of Information and Public Relations, Kerala. p. 76.
- ^ George 1968, p. 190.
- ^ a b George 1968, p. 191.
- ISBN 9788125004882.
- ^ Dr. V. S. Sharma; Vallathol Narayana Menon. "തിരനോട്ടം". സംസ്കൃത നാടക തർജ്ജമകൾ (PDF) (in Malayalam). Vallathol Granthalayam. pp. 12–15.
- ^ a b c George 1968, p. 192.
- ^ a b Chaitanya 1971, p. 352.
- Calicut: University of Calicut. 2011a. p. 21.
- ISBN 978-8-185-95265-9. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ a b c University of Calicut 2011a, p. 21.
- ^ Manju V. V. (2019). P. K. Babu (ed.). "Indianizing the Bard: A diachronic study of Shakespeare reception in India" (PDF). Singularities. 1 (2). Postgraduate Department of English, Unity Women's College, Manjeri: 106–111. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i University of Calicut 2011a, p. 22.
- ^ George 1968, p. 196.
- ^ "The man who gave academic discipline for theatre". The Hindu. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ George 1968, p. 201.
- ^ University of Calicut 2011b, p. 24.
- ^ നാടകം (PDF) (in Malayalam). University of Calicut. 2011b. p. 38.
- ^ University of Calicut 2011b, p. 38.
- ^ University of Calicut 2011b, p. 39.
- ^ a b c d e University of Calicut 2011b, p. 40.
- ^ George 1968, p. 193–201.
- ^ University of Calicut 2011b, p. 37.
Further reading
- English
- JSTOR 23329299. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- Krishna Chaitanya (1971). A History of Malayalam Literature. ISBN 9788125004882.
- Trivandrum: Department of Information and Public Relations, Kerala. pp. 76–80, 104–107.
- Malayalam
- N.B.S.
- N.B.S.
- Trichur: Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
- Kattumadam Narayanan (1990). മലയാള നാടകപ്രസ്ഥാനം [Malayala Nataka Prasthanam]. Trichur: Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
- Madavoor Bhasi (1996). മലയാള നാടകവേദിയുടെ കഥ [Malayala Natakavediyude Katha]. Trivandrum: Chaitanya Publications.
- A. N. P. Ummarkutty, ed. (1997). രംഗാവതരണം: നാടകാവതരണ തത്വങ്ങൾ [Rangavataranam]. Trivandrum: Kerala Bhasha Institute.
- Trichur: Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
- K. Sreekumar (2005). ഒരു മുഖം: ജനപ്രിയ നാടകവേദിയുടെ മിടിപ്പുകള് [Oru Mukham: Janapriya Nataka Vediyude Midippukal]. Calicut: Lipi Publications.
- Valsala Baby (2012). നാടകത്തിന്റെ കഥ [Natakathinte Katha] (3rd ed.). Trivandrum: Chintha Publishers.
- L. Thomaskutty (2005). പരീക്ഷണപ്രവണതകൾ മലയാളനാടകത്തിൽ [Pareekshana Pravanathakal Malayala Natakathil. Trivandrum: University of Calicut.
- നാടകം [Natakam] (PDF). Calicut: University of Calicut. 2011. pp. 1–56.
- "മലയാള നാടകം, തിരക്കഥ". മലയാള ഭാഷ സാഹിത്യസംഗ്രഹം [Malayala Bhasha Sahitya Samgraham] (PDF). Calicut: University of Calicut. 2011. pp. 21–23.
- Trichur: Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
- K. C. Sasidharan (2021). മലയാളത്തിലെ സാമൂഹികനാടകങ്ങളിലെ രാഷ്ട്രീയമാനം: തോപ്പിൽ ഭാസി, കെ.ടി. മുഹമ്മദ്, പി.ജെ. ആൻറണി എന്നിവരുടെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത നാടകങ്ങൾ മുൻനിർത്തിയുള്ള പഠനം [The political dimension of social dramas in Malayalam: Study of selected plays by Thoppil Bhasi, K. T. Muhammed and P. J. Antony] (Thesis). hdl:10603/386972.
External links
- Malayalam Drama, Socially Relevant Dramas, The Heyday of Malayalam Drama, Drama during the 1960s, Modernist Malayalam Theatre. Articles at the website of the Department of Public Relations, Government of Kerala.