Celebrated Tamil stage artist Y.G. Mahendra will be celebrating 62 years in theatre and 52 years in films by presenting two plays – Ithu Nyayama Sir and Charukesi – in Singapore this weekend.
Ithu Nyayama Sir is a cult-classic comedy-thriller that sheds light on loop-holes in the legal system. It has been popular since the first show in 1989 and has been performed more than 350 times across the globe.
Charukesi is a recent blockbuster by Mahendra’s group United Amateur Artists (UAA). Named after a Carnatic raga that evokes feelings of pathos and devotion, the story revolves around the life of renowned musician Charukesi.
The story and dialogues for both plays are by prolific stage writer Venkat and performed by top artists of UAA, which was founded in 1952 by Mahendra’s father Y.G. Parthasarathy, the doyen of Tamil theatre.
Mahendra dramatised and directed the plays, showcasing his mastery of dialogue, direction and acting, as well as his ability to weave humour into drama.
“Our stories reflect everyday life and have an underlying strong message. We can make a greater impact when a story is presented with humour and sensitivity,” said Mahendra, 73.
“I am happy to be doing what I love best and have come to Singapore to give meaningful entertainment. My last performance in Singapore was several years ago. I am now older, that’s all, but still as energetic.”
Ithu Nyayama Sir has been performed in India and other countries such as the United States, France, Kenya, Japan and Malaysia, while Charukesi has been performed all over India and has just completed a 15-city tour of the US.
Over the past seven decades, UAA has become popular for creating plays in normal spoken Tamil, with an occasional English word thrown in.
Many famous personalities of Tamil stage and films have come through the portals of this institution, including the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha, Nagesh, Cho Ramasamy, Ragini, Sukumari, Lakshmi and Radha Ravi.
UAA has to its credit more than 65 plays and 6,000 performances. It is India’s most widely travelled theatre group, having performed in Malaysia and Singapore as early as 1978.
V.K. Santosh Kumar
