Oor Koodi Ther Izhu
History is often written by the victors said Winston Churchill. But history is also invariably written by men. The voices of women are seldom heard and when they briefly come to the foreground, its only in brief cameos or as part of the backdrop as the man’s story rolls by. One would think that the story of a Goddess would place her front and centre throughout, but strangely the legends and myths and oral histories handed down to us about Goddess Meenakshi sublimate her feelings on her wedding day to the anger and irritation felt by her brother, Kallazhagar in missing her wedding muhurtham.
Perhaps the thing that will make the performance by Nandan, Sahana and Felix in Oor Koodi Ther Izuthu (also written by Nandan) for me, and probably for a number of others, is the act in which Meenakshi sings a heart wrenching lament about how her fond hopes that her brother would attend her wedding and honour her with his presence and shower her with gifts. Her song of dashed expectations and the absence of her natal family by her side struck a chord with everyone in the audience that day. In including this act, portrayed with shadow puppets, Nandan Sahana and Felix showed inclusivity in a way not often visualised.
I went in thinking it would be a very literal interpretation of the title but was pleasantly surprised that in a span of little less than an hour the important myths and legends of Madurai were all brough to life with humour and grace. The street play format with some help from shadow puppets, and even sock puppets, with songs, dance and narration in the theru koothu style aptly brought to life the source material, the very legends and myths that make up our city. The earthy humour in the dialogues subtly brought home the themes of unity, inclusivity, equality and communal harmony.
I cannot but mention the exchange between the three village women, who while casually roasting each other, narrate the story of greed, dacoity and murder that is the founding legend of Padinettam Padi Karuppu and the Aparanji idol of Kallazhagar, which made for some belly rollicking laughter.
The courtyard of Palimpsest house lent itself well to the performance and one would not be amiss in imagining that one was seated in the courtyard of a village shrine gazing up at the sequined dresses of the performers twinkling under the bright lights.
I personally am looking forward to more such performances Nandan, Sahana and Felix; and more performances at Palimpsest house.
Blog by
Raghuvaran Gopalan
(Advocate)
