‘Ningalenne Communistakki’ back on stage for CPM meet

Kochi: Many artists, who were part of KPAC’s famous play ‘Ningalenne Communistakki’, have not donned the grease and paint for quite some time. But as KPAC plans to stage the play in Kochi as part of the CPM state conference, they will be donning the roles they once played.
Rajendran, who used to play Paramu Pillai, is now a busy TV serial actor. Johny, who played Kesavan Nair, a landlord, is running a hollow brick manufacturing unit now.Kalesh, who played Paramu Pillai’s son Gopalan, is running a tutorial, while Rajesh who played Pappu, a tenant in the play, is an official with the forest department. All of them had not been acting since 2017 when KPAC staged ‘Ningalenne Communistakki’ for the last time.
KPAC theatre is conducting rehearsals of the play written and directed by renowned playwright and litterateur Thoppil Bhasi. “Many actors who were part of KPAC have moved on for livelihood in other fields. We called them back to stage the play as part of the CPM state conference,” said A Shajahan, secretary, KPAC.
“We faced a lot of difficulties in zeroing in on an actor to play Meenakshi, a role once played by KPAC Lalitha. Sneha, who had been playing 12-year-old Meenakshi until 2017, has now grown up. Now, Anjali is playing the role,” Shajahan said. “Those including Rajesh, who is now a forest official, have taken leave for donning their roles they haven’t played since 2017,” he said.
Thoppil Bhasi’s brother Thoppil Krishna Pillai had been playing Karamban, a labourer in the play. After Pillai’s demise, his son Pradeep KPAC dons the role. Mohammed Kuruva of Kasaragod, who had played the role of Velu karyasthan or caretaker of Kesavan Nair, will be back for the role.
‘Ningalenne Communistakki’, first staged by KPAC in 1952, had played a phenomenal role in propagating Communist and socialist ideologies across Kerala. The play also contributed its share in ensuring that the first Communist government in the country assumed power in Kerala in 1957. The play revolves around people who face hardships stemming from the feudal system. Landlord-tenant relationship and other social issues that prevailed in the 1950s reflected in the play.
KPAC has not been staging the play as opportunities were less due to the changing socio-political scenario in the state. Now, staging of the play may see the revival of KPAC as a theatre group. Though KPAC stages contemporary plays, it has not been having bookings for the past two years due to the fallout of Covid-19.