Komal Theatres’ Andrew Thaniumpresented a dramatic reconsideration of the events that ultimately led to India’s independence. In an effort to encapsulate this vast historical journey within the span of two hours, the production brought together familiar milestones and lesser known episodes to present a visual account of India’s journey to independence.

The story begins with William Hawkins landing at Surat in 1608 on the ship Hector, carrying a letter from King James I of England asking for permission to establish a trading port in Surat. This initial step paved the way for the East India Company’s entry into India and, ultimately, increased its control over the country. The company’s journey from merchant to ruler, the various rebellions during the freedom struggle and the political developments leading to India’s independence form its story. Andrew Thanium.

This staging was done to commemorate the completion of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. Written and directed by Dharini Komal, it had historical inputs from Satish Kumar, music by Rajkumar Bharathi and voice by Ilango Kumaran.

Covering a wide range of history in a two-hour play is no easy feat, yet, Dharini Komal succeeds in highlighting most of the important episodes. The sequence unfolds as a conversation between a grandfather and his grandson, although the latter only appears twice.

The opening scenes depicting William Hawking’s arrival at Surat and his meeting with Emperor Jahangir began at a slow pace. Jahangir’s glittering costumes and make-up appeared gaudy, while the performance was overshadowed by self-conscious acting. The play gradually picked up pace and began to find its rhythm with powerful acting sequences showing Velu Nachiyar and the Marudu brothers planning an attack on the British.

LED/AI projections enhanced the visual impact of the play. | Photo courtesy: M. Srinath

One of the strengths of the play was its attempt to place well-known episodes such as the rebellion of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi against British rule, as well as the story of Vanchinathan and the murder of Tirunelveli District Collector Robert Ashe at Maniyachi railway station. The production carefully described these events through rapid scene changes. The Swadeshi movement, the Dandi March, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the formation of the Indian National Congress, Jinnah’s call for partition and the events leading to independence on August 15, 1947, were among the other historical events that were seamlessly woven into the narrative. Subsequent scenes covered a variety of historical events without focusing on any one event for too long.

Care has been taken in choosing actors for iconic characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bhagat Singh and Rani Lakshmi Bai and they have portrayed the roles with conviction. However, the affected English accents adopted by the British players sometimes sounded artificial.

The LED and AI projections designed by Kannan Ruthrapathy stood out. Created with attention to detail, they effectively captured the atmosphere of each episode. The lighting design by Biju Kumar, which was controlled by Cheta Ravi, complemented the projections and thus enhanced the visual appeal of the production.

While the production accommodated a series of events with conviction, the overall effect was more like attending a visual history lesson than a dramatic narrative. Although the audience was able to understand the significance of the events being portrayed, the play did not succeed in evoking the emotional resonance it aimed for.