Nigel Akkara is back on screen

You���ve seen him as a toughened convict in Muktodhara and now, Nigel Akkara is back on screen and stage in Alokananda Roy���s latest production, 'Mokshagati'. The plot follows emperor Ashoka, and his progress towards moksha or self realization. Says the danseuse and choreographer, ���It���s a unique concept where I���ve tried to marry the stage and the screen.We have already shot the indoor portion of the production. The outdoors will be canned in the first week of December. The stage show is on on January 27. That���s where we are planning to seamlessly incorporate the screen bits.���
Alokananda plays a multitude of roles in the production. ���I���m a village dance teacher. I���m also Ashoka���s mother. I play Mokshada, who guides Ashoka to his moksha. The whole incident takes place in Kalinga but I���ve used Kalinga not as a place but as a character. You can say that I play Ashoka���s conscience. The name of the character is called Bharti Amma, a take on Mother India. The character tries to dissuade the emperor from going to war. Kalinga would be ravaged, says Bharti Amma. And since Kalinga is not just a place but a character, Ashoka will end up killing his brother. The story revolves around the whole Buddhist notion of forgiveness.���
The technical director of the screen portion is Anil Kuriakose while Alokananda is the artistic director. How was it directing Nigel, we ask. ���He will always be Valmiki for me,��� says Alokananda, referring to Nigel���s Valmiki Pratibha act in Muktodhara. ���I���m happy with the way the production is shaping up. Nigel has a big role to play in it. He embodies Ashoka but his character is called Mokshagati.���