Ujire students attempt to redefine Krishna

Taking theatre seriously, the students of SDM College, Ujire, attempted to redefine Krishna as they presented the play ‘Kolalanoodo Govinda’ directed by Shivashankar Ninasam at Ravindra Kalabhavan on Saturday.

Set in Dwaraka, the play, incorporating a series of sequences of dance-drama with strong use of story telling through poetry, also stood out for attempting to link the then-and-now by drawing attention to alcoholism.

The essence of the play, it appeared, was questioning of Krishna’s consciousness when he grieves over the death of his close relatives in a battle (Yadavi Kalaha).

The all-pervading character of the play, Kala (time), wonders how Krishna could weep on the deaths of a few when he was the one who incited the Kurukshetra war between Pandavas and Kauravas that left a toll of 18 akshohini (one akshohini is said to be a battle formation of 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65,610 horses, and 1,09,350 foot soldiers.)

Kala is not satisfied with the answer of Krishna that he wept each time a soldier was killed in Kurukshetra and calls him a liar.

Krishna speaks in a tone of resignation saying he is fed up of hearing these allegations repeatedly and goes on to grieve the death of his relatives.

But the story takes a twist at the point when a hunter’s arrow is about kill Krishna. The latter tells the grieving hunter not to worry because the hunter is neither the killer nor the one who dies.

The play takes another turn to suggest that Krishna would take birth again to restore dharma and Kala and Krishna are one and same. The final dance drama seeks sweet replay tunes of Krishna’s flute to redress the evils of today.

Interesting use of theatrics, properties, good acting and novel way of heralding the beginning and the end of each Act by making a loud sound without closing the curtain, were notable.

Clear pronunciation by some characters and better microphone placement could have enhanced the impact of the play.

In comparison, the play “Krishnapriya Shakuni”, a play presented by Besant College, was dull – more so because the troupe used recorded dialogues rather delivering them on the spot.

The plays were presented as part of a Rangothsava, a theatre fest, aimed at creating awareness about plays among students.

The programme also saw a good number of students in attendance as audience.