This story is from July 25, 2015

Mukesh and Mohanlal team up for theater

The drama is titled Naga
Mukesh and Mohanlal team up for theater
Mukesh may have made a niche for himself in movies, but the actor always finds time for his first love, stage.
The actor, who has earlier collaborated with Mohanlal for the popular play Chaayamukhi, is all set to team up with him again for a two-hour play Naga in Kalady, Kochi, early next month. This time, Mohanlal will lend his voice as narrator to the play, while Methil Devika, Mukesh’s wife and renowned dancer, will share stage with him, for the first time.
The play is based on Girish Karnad’s Kannada play Nagamandala.
“We had been thinking about a team performance for long and wanted to take up something in which Devika and me will have spaces. Upon meeting director Suveeran who made the National Award winning film Byari in 2011, Nagamandala was suggested to us and we quite liked it,” Mukesh recalls.
A folktale, Naga will have four characters played by Mukesh, his sister Sandhya, Methil Devika and theatre actor Darshan. The lead male character Appanna is brought to life by Mukesh, and Devika plays the heroine Rani. Sandhya enacts the crucial role of a blind lady and Darshan plays the character named Kappanna.
Introducing the story, Mukesh says, “It’s like one of those muthassi kathas we all might have heard, as children. The rough and tough Appanna marries a young, innocent girl Rani. He goes to work locking her in their house and comes home only during lunch. Understanding her predicament, Sandhya’s character gives her a magic love potion made from a root. Though Rani prepares it, its colour scares her and she throws it into an anthill in their courtyard. The king of snakes, who resides there, happens to taste it and falls in love with the girl. He disguises himself as Appanna every night to visit her. How it changes Rani’s life and the eventual transformations in the couple form the crux of the story.”

Speaking about roping in Mohanlal as the narrator, Mukesh says, “When I discussed it with him first, he wanted to ensure that the use of his voice is absolutely justified. He was preparing to visit Japan around that time and even suggested that I take someone else for it. However, soon after I narrated the plot to him, he said is ‘Let’s do it today evening!’ He gave it his all.”
Mukesh, who is excited to explore the immense potential of stage yet again, says, “I am happy that Girish Karnad also replied to our mail positively, as we informed him about the play.” The actor also wants to bring in quite a few changes to the staging of Naga. “Usually, an actor dresses up as the snake, which is a prominent character in the play. However, we will be using shadow puppetry and lighting by experts to present the same,” he says.
Though an experienced dancer who has been in the field for more than 30 years, theatre is a first-time experience for Mukesh’s wife Methil Devika. “Acting is also part of dance, but the one in which your voice is also emoting is a first for me. I decided to attempt it being keen to do something new and refreshing. I have entrusted myself to the director, is ready to falter and learn too,” she says. While there is the joy of working on the project as a family, Devika reveals that Mukesh is quite serious when it comes to work. “He doesn’t joke around or act silly while working. Rehearsing for the play is rejuvenating, nevertheless.”
Mukesh, on the other hand, is quite confident about her performance. “I had my own set of apprehensions about how she will fare in theatre, but I am glad to say that she has given it her best. I decide to bring her in as I have immense faith in our director. After watching Devika’s performance, director Suveeran told me recently that through Naga, we would be contributing another wonderful actress to the country,” Mukesh signs off.
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