How did Ramayanam bus stop get its name?

Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar, considered the father of modern Tamil theatre.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

World Theatre Day has been celebrated internationally since 1962 on March 27. Despite the vibrant Tamil theatre scene in Chennai, celebrations here have generally been low-key. But this year, with the support of the Federation of City Sabhas, Dharini Komal of Komal Theatres documented the history of Tamil theatre in a programme titled ‘Therukkoothu mudhal tharkaala natakam varai.’ (From street theatre to contemporary plays). Adding value to this, some drama troupes presented seven-minute excerpts from their plays.

The evening’s programme began with K.B. Sundarambal’s song ‘Gnanappazhathai pizhindu’. The lyrics were by Sankardas Swamigal, one of the pioneers in Tamil theatre. Krithika Shurajit and Balagurunathan presented Satyavan Savithri therukkoothu from the film Navaratri. Theatre and film actor ‘Kallapart’ Natarajan choreographed this dance for the film. 

While early plays were musicals, the move towards dialogue-oriented ones happened in the time of Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar, who wrote more than 90 plays. He was the founder of Suguna Vilasa Sabha, which was dedicated to fostering Tamil theatre. 

The event also showcased the history of Tamil theatre in a capsule, and served as a ‘Did you know?’ session  — Cunniah, whose Krishna Vinodha Sabha staged mythologicals and historicals, was known for the quickness with which he changed sets. Nawab Rajamanickam was also known for such perfectly choreographed transition. His Sampoorna Ramayanam became so popular, the bus stop near the venue came to be called Ramayanam bus stop.

“Nawab” T.S. Rajamanickam, one of the famous Drama Artistes of yester year.

Photo: The Hindu Archives
| Photo Credit:
THE HINDU ARCHIVES

With the Independence movement gaining momentum, patriotic plays garnered attention. Gopalachari, The. Po. Krishnaswamy Pavalar, Saminatha Sarma, S.S .Viswanatha Doss and S.D. Sundaram wrote plays that captured the patriotic fervour in the country. Freedom fighter and dramatist S.S. Viswanatha Doss went to prison 29 times because of the content of his plays. Long before Bombay Gnanam began a women-only troupe, temple dancer Kumbakonam Balamani Ammal did so with her Balamani Drama Company. In fact, the Railways had to run special trains called Balamani Express to cope with the rush. During a show of M.R. Radha’s Ratha Kanneer in Madurai, the police had to wield their batons to deal with the huge crowd. In 1876, the Dramatic Performances Act was passed so that the British could censor plays. The Act continued until 2012, when theatre artiste Gnani went to court against it, and it was scrapped.

S.Ve. Shekher presented a seveb-minute skit for the World Theatre Day celebrations, held at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

The Dravidian movement brought to the fore rationalist ideas, which were presented in dramas through powerful dialogues from the pens of Arignar Anna and Kalaignar Mu. Karunanidhi. V.C. Ganesan played the titular role in Anna’s Sivaji Kanda Indu Rajyam. The play was staged during a meeting organised by the Dravida Kazhagam. Ganesan excelled in the role of the Maratha king, and Periyar told him he should henceforth call himself ‘Sivaji’ Ganesan. M.G. Ramachandran, the hero who became chief minister of Tamil Nadu, also began his acting career on stage.

To commemorate the world theatre day, various drama troupes performed a ten minute skit at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

Dharini also spoke about the contributions of S. Ramanujam to Tamil theatre. She pointed out that many film actors of today trained in Na. Muthuswamy’s Koothu-P-Pattarai.

Kathadi Ramamurthy’s play staged as part of the World Theatre Day celebrations, that took place at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

Dharini took the audience on a quick tour of the works of N.S. Krishnan, Indira Parthasarathy, K.S. Nagarajan, Sambu Natarajan, Poornam Vishwanathan, Koothapiran, R.S. Manohar, Heron Ramaswamy, S.V. Sahasranamam, Seshadri, YGP’s United Amateur Artistes, Cho Ramaswamy, Mouli, ARS, K. Balachander, Kathadi Ramamurthy and Crazy Mohan. 

To commemorate the World Theatre Day, various drama troupes performed a ten minute skit at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR

Though many in the audience might have known all this, listening to Dharini narrate them helped refresh one’s memory. 

Y. Gee. Mahendra’s UAA performed a skit from one of their early plays to commemorate the World Theatre Day, at Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai on Thursday. Photo : Raghunathan SR / The Hindu
| Photo Credit:
RAGHUNATHAN SR