Penn (Woman) - 1993
'Penn' is a Tamil word for 'woman'. The performance is not based on any one text, but puts together a series of expressions worked out through theater exercises. As the title says. It is about woman, but about woman struggling with her own self to overcome self doubt. In every assertion of her self, she progresses toward Sakthi, the level of total energy. She metamorphoses to self awareness.
She imbibed the salutation of Silambam Martial Arts in a non-verbal expression.
- Directed by S.S.Kalairaani
She imbibed the salutation of Silambam Martial Arts in a non-verbal expression.
- Directed by S.S.Kalairaani
Song of Lowino - 1994This performance is based on a poem in three cycles by the Ugandan poet, Okot P'Bitek; 'Lowino sitting in the middle of a circle of ash, chanting a dirge, lamenting and mourning the metephorical death of her husband, Ocol, who loses his identity to the ways of the white man'. Lowino names the many chains with which she has been bound and in doing so, confronts the many keys she looks in her own hand. Lowino's dirge turns into an angry song of freedom.
Director Hartman deSouza used Jazz drums in her his version of the play. Kalairaani has chosen folk drums in her rendition. Duration - 40 minutes Poet - Okot P'Bitek Direction - Hartman deSouza (Earlier), S.S.Kalairaani (Later) Translation - M. Natesh Set Design - S.Kalaichelvan Voice - Bhagiarathi Narayanan |
Varugalamo..? (Can i come..?) - 1995
- Directed by S.S.Kalairaani
Based on an early 19th century literary and poetic work by Gopalakrishnan Bharathi – the solo act draws inspiration from the core of the self-struggle of Nandanar - a male ascetic enslaved by the oppressive conditioning he suffered by virtue of his birth in a lower caste group that stood in the way of him reaching God. The collective experience of generations of women under siege of cultural and social oppression parallels the suffering of lower caste groups when it comes to reaching God - made inaccessible to all by superstition and religious doctrines. Nandanar’s struggle as expressed from a woman’s perspective gives a completely new dimension when combined with song, contemporary movement and theatre – creating a transcending and visceral experience. |
Mazhai (Rain)After the experience of being drenched in the rain for three days, Kalai produced the play Mazhai. Mazhai explores the rain that is needed to nourish the dry lands within us. Through this work, Kalai uses rain as a metaphor for the needs and wants of different people whether it may be money, love, children, fame..etc. While narrating the story, Kalai places various props to build the set and bring the illustration of rain to the audience. - Script & Direction by S.S.Kalairaani |