Kalairaani’s expressions of ‘devotion’ on stage

For Chennai-based theatre artiste and film actor S.S. Kalairaani, man’s struggle for freedom is eternal, and she construes freedom as both physical and meta-physical, personal as well as social. Kalairaani’s solo performance, Varagalamo Aiyya (Can I come?), slated to be staged in Kallar on April 16 is an exploration of bhakthi rasa (devotion) through a song-poem, Varagalamo Aiyya, from 19th century Tamil poet and Carnatic music composer Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s Nandanar Charitham, which focuses on the chasm between the ‘upper’ castes and the ‘lower’ castes. The classic work narrates the story of Nandanar who belongs to a so-called ‘lower caste’ but is a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and his struggles with an enchaining social system.

“Nandanar’s fight to meet Lord Nataraja in Chidambaram is symbolic of our own struggles to reach out in life. All of us long to break free and attain something that’s personally meaningful. In today’s world, it is so especially for the women,” says Kalairaani in a telephonic conversation.

Kalairaani, who won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for the Best Female Character Artiste award in 2005 for her role in Kodambakkam, says the roots of this solo performance go as far back as 1995 when she first adapted Bharathi’s padam on stage. She has been constantly perfecting the act over the years by bringing in more layers of imagination. However, time has not taken the relevance off the theme. “This fight for identity is still very much relevant today, especially when you speak about caste. We have to realise that we still haven’t attained freedom,” says Kalairaani, who has been active with the prominent Tamil theatre troupe Koothu-P-Pattarai known for its avant-garde plays. “The theme, though on a literal level looks religious, assumes a greater significance in the way I explore it. It becomes social, personal and contemporary.”

Schooled in dramatic experimentations, Kalairaani is not one to stick to traditional histrionics unless necessary and Varagalamo Aiyya is no different.

“In this format, I have moved away from a traditional rendition of the song. The theatrical expression of the lines gives more emphasis on the emotions. The viewer will discern more when he/she travels with the play as it is an ardent expression of devotion, love, anger and longing to go near to the Lord,” she explains.

The setting and props too play their part in dissecting Nandanar’s emotions and conflicts. “The costume and lighting are planned in such a manner as to enhance the mood of the play. In fact, a costume fashioned out of jute is used for symbolic significance as the material has been extensively used in the making of doormats and mops, thus representing the state of the downtrodden,” she says. Some of Kalairaani’s noted performances are the solo work Penn, Song of Lowino, an adaptation of a poem by Ugandan poet Okot P. Bitek, Ezhindiri among others. She has featured in popular Tamil movies such as Mudhalvan, Dum Dum Dum, Devathai, Ennavale.

The play will be staged at Gowry Art Institute, Kallar, at 5.30 pm on Monday.

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