For the first time in history, a Malayalam play created in Singapore will be staged across three major Indian cities, marking a milestone for Singapore’s Malayalee community.
Anthithottam: The Final Act, produced by Singapore Kairalee Kala Nilayam (SKKN), will be performed at Thiruvananthapuram’s Ganesham Soorya Naataka Kalari (Sept 13), Bengaluru’s Jagriti Theatre (Sept 20), and Chennai’s Medai - The Stage (Sept 21).
Directed by and starring Sreekanth Menon, the play resurrects the forgotten story of Muchilot Madhavan, a Malayalee expatriate immortalised in French history as a World War II resistance hero.
“Muchilot Madhavan’s roots are in Mahe, Kerala, yet his story remains largely unknown even to Malayalees,” said Mr Sreekanth. “He was likely the only Indian executed by Nazis during World War II, and to bring his journey alive on stage is both an honour and a responsibility.”
Set within Madhavan’s prison cell in occupied Paris, the play captures his final hours before his execution at Mont Valerien, the main execution site used by the German army in France during World War II.
Through dialogues with fellow prisoner Pierre Chaumoff and Father Henrich, and dreamlike memories with his beloved Giselle Moliet, Madhavan’s inner world comes alive.
Adding a distinctive cultural layer, the play weaves in the ritualistic presence of Shastappan Theyyam, symbolising Madhavan’s conscience. Shastappan Theyyam is a powerful and significant ritual art form performed in the northern parts of Kerala.
Shadow theatre, Thottam Pattu (folk devotional songs) and even a version written for the French national anthem amplify the play’s dramatic and emotional power.
“This is the first time an original Malayalam play from Singapore is being staged in India,” said veteran playwright Mr D. Sudheeran, adviser to SKKN. “It marks a pioneering moment for Singapore’s Malayalee community and the reach of their cultural voice.”
The dialogue is predominantly in Malayalam, but the production incorporates French, German, and English with surtitles, making it accessible to wider audiences.
Anthithottam is an ambitious production involving 23 cast and crew members, almost all based in Singapore and working professionals pursuing theatre out of passion.
Mr Sreekanth himself plays Madhavan, supported by a multi-cultural team that includes French actor Jacques, who portrays German officer Treppe and will travel to India for the shows, and Kerala-based actress Anjali Nair as Giselle, Madhavan’s Parisian love.
The script was written by Bengaluru-based Anil Rohit, with Gopu Krishnan as assistant director. “This is theatre born out of community passion,” Mr Sreekanth said. “Every member balances full-time work with rehearsals, which makes their dedication remarkable.”
The play was first staged in March 2023 at the Goodman Arts Centre in Singapore as part of SKKN’s annual theatre showcase. It received rave reviews for its originality, unusual storyline, and fusion of Malayali traditions with European wartime history.
SKKN, formed in 1956, is one of Singapore’s oldest non-profit Indian organisations, known for promoting Indian culture, arts, and sports among Indian residents. For the group, bringing a production back to India, especially Kerala, is deeply symbolic.
“The ultimate dream is to stage Anthithottam in Paris, at Mont Valérien itself,” Mr Sreekanth revealed. “We’ve shared details with the museum there, and they were impressed. Funding is the challenge, but discussions are ongoing.”
For Mr Sreekanth, the play is more than art – it is a revival of neglected history. “Madhavan’s sacrifice for France shows that expatriates carry dual responsibilities – to their homeland and to their adopted land,” he said.
By merging Kerala’s cultural expressions like Theyyam with France’s wartime struggle, the play highlights universal values of sacrifice, resilience, and humanity.
“Anthithottam is a tribute not only to Madhavan’s courage but to all expatriates who have shaped nations beyond their birthplaces,” Mr Sreekanth added. “It reminds us that belonging and duty transcend borders.”
