Girish Karnad is a veteran who built a bridge between our contemporary and traditional literature: Abhilash Pillai

The entire world was in short of words, when veteran artist Girish Karnad passed away on June 10. As people from all over cherished even the shortest association they have had with the multifaceted artist, Abhilash Pillai too shared his experiences to Kochi Times, "I have always been a Girish Karnad fan. I used to attend his lectures and seminars often, while I was a student at the National School of Drama. We also worked closely when I was the festival director of the ITFOK 2010. Once Karnad got a clear idea on the vision and politics of the theatre fest, he warmly accepted the invite to inaugurate the event."

It was also the year on which the Ammannur Madhava Chakyar Award, which is given away at ITFOK, was instituted. Renowned dramatist Badal Sarkar was chosen for the first award. "Badalda and Karnad were close friends. During the award ceremony, Badalda was very weak and found it tough to walk till the podium to receive it. From the podium, Karnad called out to Badalda, ‘Just walk straight ahead, I am here in front of you.’ That moment was quite heart-warming for everyone present there."

Abhilash adds, "He had also stayed with us in Thrissur and watched some of the Latin American productions. Even when we met several years later, he inquired about ITFOK and how things have progressed."

According to him, Girish Karnad is a veteran who built a bridge between our contemporary and traditional literature, specifically in the context of his plays inspired by folk tales and historical characters. "Even when inspired by mythology, he could merge or weave in rationality into them skilfully."