Popular author Sivasankari’s stories, written over a long and rich career on a variety of subjects, have long resonated with readers of Tamil magazines. Selecting six from her vast repertoire, Dharini Komal has adapted them for the stage, presenting them as a collection Shivshankari At Vani Mahal Theater Festival.

Each of the selected stories explored themes that had core emotional values ​​that would appeal to audiences. Equally fascinating was the way the plays were compiled – starting with simple, light-hearted anecdotes and gradually moving towards more serious emotional territory, before culminating in a reflective, retrospective finale.

Dharani Komal adapted the stories on stage. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

kajhudhai thendhu It was a simple story in which a housewife responded to a newspaper advertisement asking for donations for a cause. His innate generosity arising from the situation gradually wanes over time – a change that is handled with gentle humour. Actress Vidya Lakshmi as Poorna brought the scenes alive with her spontaneity and dialogue delivery.

another story, sundaeWhat starts as a lovely couple’s deep romance gradually turns into serious enmity and culminates in divorce. Although this could have worked well as a short story, the dramatization made the entire scenario seem contrived and unnatural. Transfer to the socio-political register, next section, Thalaivar VanadharThere was a story on the windfall benefits of a minister’s trip being cancelled.

AyahWhich focuses on how a widowed village woman is treated and taken advantage of by her own son and daughter-in-law, it is a powerful commentary on how many senior citizens today are treated by their children. Through nuanced behaviour, detailed characterization and subtle expression of emotions ranging from happiness to sadness and disillusionment, Nanjil Revathi brought depth to his portrayal of Vadivambal. The details of the costume added richness to the performance.

Devam Ninru KollamA perspective on karmic retribution, and Theppakulam What takes us down memory lane were deep, emotional stories that were perfect for dramatic exploration.

All the stories focused on women – their lives, feelings and experiences. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Is it a coincidence that all the stories focused on women – their lives, feelings and experiences? Except for one, which featured Vignesh Chellapan as Param Guru, the male characters largely served as fillers in the narratives. The stories featured actors Sahasranama, Siddharth, Kavya, Shashi Kumar, Anu Kannan, Kannan Ruthrapathy and Baby Subha.

Moving away from the usual painted stage settings, the use of LED projection (designed by Thiagarajan) added to the visual appeal. The lighting was handled by Chetha Ravi, and the music was composed by Vishwajay. Dharini Komal’s skillful direction – orchestrating the clear flow of movements and scenes – coupled with fine performances from the actors, kept the momentum going throughout.