Rang Sopan-2: A mini cultural trip to Kerala

It's going to be a year that I covered this amazing theater festival 'Rang Sopan-2' that was dedicated to and based on the work of Padma Bhushan Kavalam Narayan Panikkar. It was the beginning of my work in Hindustan Times and my good luck too that I got the opportunity to meet K.N. Panikkar and watch his plays. The festival was held for 7 days at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal and was absolute fun, ofcourse for those who love to know and explore about Indian art and culture. 
There is so much to say about this personality whom I met in the beginning of my job. This festival gave me a good direction to move forward. The seven day festival 'Rang Sopan-2' was indeed like a 'festival' where all of us, Bhopalies, saw the richness of the culture of Kerala. The festival included plays in Hindi, Sanskrit and Malayalam, some sessions of Rang Sangeet (music of theatre), some talk and discussion session on the contribution and working style of K.N. Panikkar.
The evenings began with 'Theyyam' which is a traditional spiritual folk dance form from Kerala. Rather, Theyyam is a very popular ritual of worshiping prominent in the state. The performer uses a lot of make-up and heavy head gears traditionally. Dance movements are vigorous and special instruments accompany the performer. Theyyam is based on different stories famous on the land and have more than 400 types.

Later the Sopanam Rang Samooh would stage the play everyday either in Hindi, Sanskrit or Malayalam. The most exciting part of this whole festival was that even the non-Malayalam and non-Sanskrit speaking audience would understand the story. This is one of the strength of Panikkar's productions that the expressions, movements, music, set and lights would say it all and language is not a barrier! Another strength is his actors. It looked near to impossible that the same actors staged six different play of different moods in three different languages continuously without any flaw! One of the Hindi play was staged by the artists working in the repertory of National School of Drama. The classic style, dramatization of all elements of the play and amazing acting skills of artists of the group made it even more interesting and attractive where a huge population in theater fraternity is working on realistic theater. Sharing some photographs of the plays.

Still from the Malayalam play 'Uttar Raamcharitam' (उत्तर रामचरितम्) by Sopanam Rang Samooh 

Still from the Hindi play 'Abhigyan-shakuntalam' (अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तलम) by NSD repertory 

Still from the Malayalam play 'Kalluriutti' (कल्लुरुट्टी) by Sopanam Rang Samooh

Still from the Sanskrit play 'Pratima' (प्रतिमा) by Sopanam Rang Samooh

Still from the Malayalam play 'Bhagawatjugiyam' (भगवतजुगियम्) by Sopanam Rang Samooh