The Dramatic Arts: Spread the Name Accolades

Nadaga Rathiningal, a drama festival conducted by Mudhra,took place over a period of eight days from the 5^th of June, 2016 to the 12^th of June, 2016. Featuring the eight best plays, handpicked from those which made their debut in the Kodai Nadaga Vizha 2016 conducted by Karthin Fine Arts, Nadaga Rathiningal showcased of some of the best talent the drama industry has to offer.

Before I go ahead with the awards part of the article, I want to take a minute, or rather a paragraph, to thank Mudhra who have, for the past 21 years, strived to create a platform for performers, hailing from the field of music, dance and dramas to showcase their talents. This is truly an honorable undertaking, for which the President of Mudhra, Shri Nalli Kuppusami Chetty and the Secretaries “Mudhra” Bhaskar and Smt.Radha Bhaskar must be praised. Spread the Name has been extremely privileged in getting an opportunity to cover the festival from day one.

Every year around twenty five to thirty plays are inaugurated in Chennai. Since Spread the Name has just started covering the dramatic arts this year it has not been possible to cover every new play, but I assure you that I am trying to do so. Coincidentally a number of Drama Festivals occur each year, during which a large number of plays are inaugurated. These festivals provide a chance for Spread the Name to provide awards for different plays based on various categories.

The categories are:

1.       Best Drama

2.       Best Director

3.       Best Socially Relevant Drama

4.       Best Comedic Drama

5.       Best Lead Actor in a Pivotal Role

6.       Best Lead Actress in a Pivotal Role

7.       Best Performance in a Supporting Role

8.       Technical Prowess

First off I want to mention that the winners will be revealed in the reverse order of categories. I will mention the nominees a small write up on why they were nominated and who was best. And then I will reveal the winner.

Technical Prowess:

Unfortunately, due to the severe lack of variety in the music and make up department, I shall not be providing any technical prowess awards. But for formalities sake here are the winners in specific categories.

Music - S Guhaprasath for Kaleeshwarabhavanam and pretty much three-fourths of the plays which were showcased.

Lights - “Mylai”Babu for Eendra Pozudhil. The other nominees were “Kalaivanar” Kitcha and Kalaivanar.

Make up - “Perambur” Kumar who also wins due to a similar situation like the one in the music department.

Sets – “Saidai” Kumar and Shanmugam take the price due to the inconsistencies in the sets of “Padma Stage” Kannan

Now that that part is out of the way, let’s move on the awards part of the article.

Best Performance in a Supporting Role:

The Nominees are:

1.       Sujatha Dharmaraj for Kaleeshwarabhavanam

2.       CV Kumar for Eendra Pozudhil

3.       Vishwanathan Ramesh for Appavin Penn Nandhini  

4.       Kripa for Parthu Pseu Patabi

This was a tough choice. All the actors had phenomenal performances. Sujatha Dharmaraj, gave an amazing performance and Vishwanathan Ramesh was amazing as the father in Appavin Penn Nandhini. But to me the two best ones were from CV Kumar for Eendra Pozudhil and Kripa for Parthu Pesu Patabi. Having to choose between the two of them is difficult, but it is here that the experience of Kripa as a long time actor shows. And it also helps that he is on stage for a longer period of time.

And so, The Winner is: Kripa for Parthu Pesu Patabi

Best Lead Actress in a Pivotal Role:

The Nominees are:

1.       Lavanya Venugopal for Neeya Naana

2.       Bahupriya for Kalakara Mapillai

3.       Poorvaja Moorthy for Appavin Penn Nandhini

In this category, the actress should have played a pivotal role in the story, affecting it directly. Though Manjula Devi Pillai, who would have definitely stolen the award I am unable give it to her because her the character she played had no direct bearing on the story. I am going to have to confine myself to the list of nominees I have here.

All three actresses had good performances, but as I mentioned in my review for Appavin Penn Nandhini, Poorvaja Moorthy’s performance was not up to the mark.  Since Bahupriya’s role  was essentially a motivation for the main character, it almost makes her seem like a glorified supporting character. So, by method of cancellation, the award goes to Lavanya Venugopal for Neeya Naana. I hope that in the future, there are more prominent characters in pivotal roles, so as to make sure that female characters aren’t sidelined.

The Winner is: Lavanya Venugopal for Neeya Naana

Best Lead Actor in a Lead Role:

The Nominees are:

1.       Madhu for Eendra Pozudhil

2.       N Ratnam for Kaleeshwarabhavanam

3.       Ananthu for Parthu Pesu Patabi

4.       Muthukumar for Oru Kodi Kanavagul

And now the competition starts heating up. Every single one of the nominees gave astounding performances on stage. Ananthu carried the play as Patabi and Muthukumar was at his best in Oru Kodi Kanavagul.

But all said and done, two performances stole the show. Madhu was the perfect image of a soldier torn between family and duty; and N Ratnam gave me goose bumps every time he was on stage. But, I am going to have to pick one. It is completely based on one small reason that I choose the winner. Unlike Madhu, a large chunk of Ratnam’s amazing performance happened during the second half of the play, and thus I am going to have to go with Madhu for Eendra Pozudhil.

Trust me when I say this, it took me all night to come to this decision. This is the reason why this was not posted yesterday.

The Winner is: Madhu for Eendra Pozudhil

Best Comedic Drama:

The Nominees are:

1.       Neeya Naana

2.        Kalakara Mapillai

3.       Parthu Pesu Patabi.

There is literally no second guessing required. Neeya Naana does not stack up to the other two simply because the comedic burden is carried only by “Kathadi” Ramamoorthy in Neeya Naana. Comparing the other two, Parthu Pesu Patabi emerges as a clear winner, because of its different take on comedy.

The Winner is: Parthu Pesu Patabi

Best Socially Relevant Drama:

The Nominees are:

1.       Oru Kodi Kanavagul

2.       Appavin Penn Nandhini

3.       Neeya Naana

Neeya Naana takes on a comedic approach to the nuclear family versus joint family debate and, somehow it tries to be both comedic and socially relevant at once and it is this split identity that leads to its downfall.

I do have certain Problems with Appavin Penn Nandhini and the way it handles facts which are stated in the play itself. But it is my opinion that the problem stems from the fact that it has to be great while refraining from making socially relevant statements. Sadly it is unable to do both.

In the end, it is the solid handling of the characters and subject matters which paves the way for Oru Kodi Kanavagul to win.

The Winner is: Oru Kodi Kanavagul

Best Director:

The Nominees are:

1.       N Ratnam for Kaleeshwarabhavanam

2.       Chandramohan for Eendra Pozudhil  

3.       Ananthu for Parthu Pesu Patabi

It is a really difficult job, conceiving a play, scripting it managing it and to bring it in front of an audience without any glaring pitfalls. It is made all the more difficult especially when these directors have also written their respective plays. Of the three nominees, Ananthu had to make sure that the actors did a good job. The music and the lights didn’t seem to matter that much at all.

It is only in Kaleeshwarabhavanam and Eendra Pozudhil that the talents of the respective directors are revealed.

Chandramohan is one of the best directors working in the drama industry today and his expertise cannot be questioned. But directorial touch of Ratnam is nothing short of phenomenal. Everything about it screams perfection, and I can’t ignore said screams. N Ratnam knocks it out of the ball park.

The Winner is: N Ratnam for Kaleeshwarabhavanam

Best Drama:

The Nominees are:

1.       Eendra Pozudhil

2.       Kaleeshwarabhavanam

3.       Parthu Pesu Patabi

4.       Kalakara Mapillai

5.       Oru Kodi Kanavagul.

This is it. We are here, at the top. And oh what a competition it is. All the nominees have something special about them. But if you have read my reviews for each and every one of them, you will know that two are a cut above the rest. Kaleeshwarabhavanam and Endra Pozudhil are two of the best plays I have seen, but for completely different reasons.

Kaleeshwarabhavanam captured the critic in me. The play is technically faultless. Any errors I can point out in it are glorified nitpicks. It is damn good entertainment.

Eendra Pozudhil captured the audience member in me. It is a play which rises above its faults and manages to capture the hearts of the audience. It is a captivating piece if theater.

I know that there can only be one best play, but sometimes, you can never just pick a winner, however long you think about it; it just is not possible. And, I know that I rated Eendra Pozudhil lower than Kaleeshwarabhavanam but that is based on a technical point of view.

If I was held at gunpoint and asked to choose I would have to pick Kaleeshwarabhavanam. But as they stand now, I am going to have to award them both, the award of Best drama.

And so, The Winners are:

1.       In first place, Kaleeshwarabhavanam  

2.       In second place, Eendra Pozudhil.

Finally here are the all the winners:

And, so the competition comes to an end. Huge congratulations to all the winners. To those who didn’t win, try again next time. For it is only when you try, that you create miracles.

Spread the Name thanks Mudhra once again for providing this amazing opportunity to observe such amazing talent, both on and off stage. Until next time:

Peace!!!