Manju Warrier walks into the lobby at Vivanta by Taj, Vazhuthacaud, in a black and red attire, with her hair let down and a smile on her face. We have just half-an-hour for the tete-e-tete before she leaves for her rehearsals at thespian Kavalam Narayana Panicker’s Sopanam kalari on the outskirts of the capital city.
With just two days to go for her debut on stage, as Shakunthala of the Sanskrit play, Abhijnana Shakuntalam , Manju is a bundle of nerves. And she doesn’t hide that at all. “I am nervous when I think about the vastness of the project. It is a first for me on many accounts. It is my debut in theatre. I vaguely remember doing a play in lower primary classes. But this is my initial step into serious theatre, that too in a play of Kavalam Narayana Panicker’s and a Sanskrit drama for that matter! In addition it is a celebrated work like Abhijnana Shakuntalam . Once I announced the project, it just got bigger and bigger and people are expecting so much now. That is a huge responsibility. Dance has been incorporated in a small way, otherwise it is all dialogues. Everything happens live, there are no re-takes, no prompting…,” she says as a gamut of expressions flash across her face.
There were many challenges for the gifted actor once she decided to do the play. Sanskrit was completely new for her while dialogue delivery in a loud voice did not come easily to her. “Mohini chechi , who played Shakuntala when the play was first staged, helped me with each and every word in the script. I am a novice in theatre, especially for so many seasoned artistes, some of whom have three to four decades of association with Sopanam. I am not used to speaking at the top of my voice. Hats off to all those theatre artistes who have been doing that for years. There is a lot of difference between how you act in front of the camera and on a stage and I had to work a lot to overcome that difference. Initially I was like ‘Oh my God…will I be able to pull it off!’” she says with a laugh.
There is reverence in her voice once she starts talking about the late Kavalam Narayana Panicker who passed away last month. “It was his dream to stage the play again. I never thought that he wouldn’t be around when we perform it. In spite of his ill-health, he made it a point to be at the rehearsal camp on most of the days. When I decided that I wanted to work with Kavalam one way or the other and zeroed in on theatre, it was his decision that I should do a Sanskrit play and that too Abhijnana Shakuntalam . When I first reached the camp, he made me feel at home and infused me with confidence. He used to talk about how Lal ettan (Mohanlal) surprised him with his performance in Karnabharam . In fact there were plans to stage Vikramorvasheeyam with me and Lal ettan . I don’t know whether that would happen now,” she says.
So did Kavalam make any observation about her performance? “(Laughs) Well…yes. Apparently Kavalam sir had told others at the kalari that my performance exceeded his expectations. I couldn’t have asked for more. This is my gurudakshina for him,” Manju says.
With the play, Manju is also debuting as a producer with Manju Warrier Productions. Why did she choose this as her first production? “Because it was I who wanted to do it. I have always been in awe of theatre but never had the guts to do it till now. That doesn’t mean I am going to come up with many more productions. I just started the venture and let’s see where it takes me. We will take the play to New Delhi and Ujjain where they annually stage plays directed by Kavalam sir,” says Manju.
Meanwhile the actress, who made a thumping comeback after a gap of 14 years with How Old Are You? , is thrilled that Karinkunnam 6s has done well at the box-office.
Many new projects are lined up, but she would rather keep mum about it. \Talks are on for films in Bengali and Marathi. ]“I have heard that excellent films are being made in these languages. So if an opportunity comes my way why not take it up?”
In between she managed to learn some magic as well for the Magic of Motherhood show, an event organised by UNICEF and Magic Academy at Kinfra Film and Video Park. It was meant as an awareness programme for expectant mothers and new mothers, to raise awareness about nutritious food and vaccinations for newborns. “I learnt a trick just for fun,” she chuckles.
No doubt she is pushing the envelope, with strong roles, big brand endorsements, social initiatives, and now theatre. Is it a deliberate ploy? “Not at all. I didn’t even think that I would make a comeback, let alone exploring new things. All these things just happened. Life has been throwing up many surprises for me and I just hope more are on the way,” she signs off with that disarming smile.
Abhijnana Shakuntalam, presented by Sopanam and Swaralaya, will be staged at Tagore Theatre on July 18, 6.30 p.m.
Short take
It was in 1982 that Abhijnana Shakuntalam was staged for the first time under the direction of Kavalam Narayana Panicker. Mohini Vijayan, a 13-year-old then, played Shakuntala. When Manju Warrier stepped into the role, it was Mohini’s turn to guide her. “Manju learnt everything with the curiosity of a child. Her training in classical dance helped her to learn fast. When you do theatre, your expressions have to be a degree above what you do in front of the camera. A dancer can easily do that. She is also singing two songs in the play,” says Mohini, who acts as Gauthami, Shakuntala’s foster mother in the play. There are 20 artistes in the work, including members of the orchestra.
