Lec-dem by Perungattur P Rajagopal and Dr Hanne M de Bruin and accompanying performers: https://www.musicacademymadras.in/events/academic-sessions-thursday/

6:30 to 7:30 pm Solladi Sivashakti | சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி

By Theatre Nisha, Chennai | தியேட்டர் நிஷா, சென்னை

Solladi Sivashakti is a solo performance of four short stories by Andal Priyadarshini, exploring the lives, desires, and complexities of women. The stories delve into themes of courage, self-respect, maternal love, grief and divine introspection through the experiences of women facing extraordinary challenges. Each narrative reveals the strength and complexities of its female protagonists as they navigate life’s most difficult trials.

சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி என்பது கலைமாமணி கவிஞர் ஆண்டாள் பிரியதர்ஷினி எழுதிய தமிழ் சிறுகதைகளை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டதாகும். இக்கதைகள் பெண்கள், அவர்களின் வாழ்க்கை, கனவு, ஆசை, நம்பிக்கைகள் குறித்தவையாகும்.

 நம் உலகின் கடுமையான மற்றும் நேர்மையான பிரதிபலிப்பாகிய இக்கதைகள், பெண்கள் தங்கள் வாழ்க்கையில் சந்திக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு தடையையும் எதிர்கொண்டு செல்வதைப் பற்றியவையாகும்.

ஒவ்வொரு பெண்ணும் சமுதாயத்தின் வெவ்வேறு இடங்களை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தினாலும், அவர்களை ஒரே திரையில் இணைக்கிறது, அவளின் பொறுமை, மறுபடியும் எழுந்து நிற்கும் சக்தி, மற்றும் அவள் பாதையை வழிநடத்தும் ஆழ்ந்த காதல்.

Actor: Shakthi Ramani; Percussions: Vishwa Bharath; Vocals: Srivaralakshmi Maya; Design and Direction: V Balakrishnan; Theatre Nisha - www.theatrenisha.com

7:30 to 8:30 pm Daksya Yagam | தக்கன் யாகம்

By Kattaikkuttu Sangam performer-members | கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

When the arrogant Daksya fails to invite Shiva to an elaborate sacrifice, he incurs the wrath of his son in law. Humiliated repeatedly by her father who insults her husband Shive, Parvati/Sati curses Daksya and immolates herself into the fire. Hearing about the death of his wife, Shiva’s grief turns into a terribly anger. He then creates Virabhadra who sets out to destroy Daksya’s sacrifice.

Performers: S Vijayan, J Loganathan, A Selvarasu, T Veluchamy, P. Moorthy, P Thilagavati, A Kandipan, S Gobinath, R Mahalakshmi, A Dillibabu.

6:30 to 7:30 pm The Mobile Girls Koottam | தி மொபைல் கேர்ள்ஸ் கூட்டம்

By Samyukta PC & ensemble, Pondicherry | சம்யுக்தா PC & குழு, பாண்டிச்சேரி

The Mobile Girls Koottam centres on four women—Satya, Abhinaya, Lakshmi, and Kalpana—who work at a Nokia mobile phone factory. They share a rented house, known as Muthu’s room, in Kanchipuram. The play unfolds over the course of one unexpected holiday, where the women come together for a day of relaxation, cooking biryani and engaging in heartfelt conversations. As they share laughter, love, and frustrations, their world is shaken by news of the factory's closure, forcing them to confront personal and societal challenges, ultimately reclaiming ownership of their lives and bodies.

Director: Samyuktha PC, Co-director: Krishna J Nair, Musicians: Naren & Anush (Adavi Arts Collective), Actors Malavika PC, Nimmy Babu, Atchaya Shenali, Nattar Selvi and Yazhini Manorama.

This performance is made possible through a collaboration with India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore.

7:30 to 8:30 pm Tarkkam Duhsasana-Draupadi | திரௌபதி-துச்சாசனன் தர்க்க காட்சி

By Kattaikkuttu Sangam performer-members | கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

3 different pairs of Draupadi and Duhsasana perform the same scene from the famous Mahabharata play Dice and Disrobing.

Performers: TP Durai and R Devan, R Manigandan and M Vijayan, M Nandhakumar and V Munirathinam.

6:30 to 7:30 pm Requiem for a theatre | நாடகம் - இரங்கல் இசை

By Indianostrum, Pondicherry | இந்தியனோஸ்டரம், பாண்டிச்சேரி

Play in memory of the theatre space which Indianostrum recently has had to vacate.

Performers: Performers: Saranjith NK, Cormoreche Marine, Srijita, Shafali, Nikita Thube, Arjun Chandran, Heenu Khanna, Kalpesh D Samel, Harshwardhan Nagendra Manekari, Manvita Joshi, Shivesh Kumar, Tishar Narayan Kakad, Avanti Latankar, Valavane Koumarane (director).

7:30 to 8:30 pm P Rajagopal’s Veriyattam | வெறியாட்டம்

By P Rajagopal and Kattaikkuttu Sangam members, Punjarasantankal | P.  ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

Veriyattam or The Gypsy’s Ruse (1994) features the greedy demon Kaliyugasuran and his four rogue ministers. Kaliyugasuran’s protagonist is the young queen Vempuli who receives unsolicited advice from a wise Kuratti, Sinki. Three Kattiyakkarans or Clowns provide a running commentary on the behaviour and actions of the principal characters and guarantee a good laugh.

The central theme of this shortened version of the all-night play is veri or the possession that overtakes people in power expressing itself in self-aggrandizement, misuse of power and political or religious fanaticism. Such excessive desire destroys critical thinking and empathy, sharing of material goods and living in harmony with each other and with nature. Veriyattam features a traditional Terukkuttu scene which is Rajagopal’s artistic answer to a debate about the naming of his theatre.

Performers: J Loganathan, A Selvarasu, P Sasikumar, T Veluchami, A Bharathi, P Moorthy, M Doraisami, A Kandipan, A Dillibabu, Satish, S Srimathy, S Gobinath, P Thilagavathy, S Tamilarasi, P Rajagopal (director).

6:30 to 7:30 pm Sufi Music | சூஃபி இசை

By Abdul Ghani, Haja Maideen and Shahul Hameed, Nagore | சூஃபி பாடகர்கள்: அப்தூல் கனி, ஹாஜா மைதீன், சாகுல் ஹமீது, நாகூர்

Songs on Allah, Prophet Muhammad, Nagore Meeran and Ajmer Chisti.

7:30 to 8:30 pm P Rajagopal’s Tavam | தவம்

By P Rajagopal and Kattaikkuttu Sangam members, Punjarasantankal | P.  ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

Tavam (2021) has been imagined as two journeys in opposite directions: on the one hand, Arjuna’s journey to Mount Kailasa in search of the Pasupati weapon and, on the other hand, the journey of five young rural women Kattaikkuttu performers into a socially forbidden, male-only theatre world.

In order to achieve his passion, Arjuna needs to perform an austere penance breaking off all his social relationships with the human world. The journey of the women involves a different kind of tapas and determination in which they need to negotiate the social constraints and the "reasons" rural society gives to prevent rural young women, who are fully trained in Kattaikkuttu, to continue their career in the performing arts, before but also after marriage.

Performers: S Vijayan, A Selvarasu, P Sasikumar, S Tamilarasi, R Mahalakshmi, A Bharathi, K Venda, S Srimathy, P Moorthy, R Kumar, A Dillibabu, P Rajagopal (director).

6:30 to 7:30 pm Karnatic Kattaikkuttu - Part 1: Disrobing of Draupadi | கர்னாடிக் கட்டைக்கூத்து - பகுதி 1: திரௌபதி துகில்

By TM Krishna, P Rajagopal, Sangeetha Sivakumar and Hanne M de Bruin (directors) | கிருஷ்ணா & குழு, சென்னை and P.  ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

7:40 to 8:30 pm Karnatic Kattaikkuttu - Part 2: The Eighteenth Day | கர்னாடிக் கட்டைக்கூத்து - பகுதி 2: பதினெட்டாம் போர்

Conceptualized by P Rajagopal, TM Krishna, Sangeetha Sivakumar and Hanne M de Bruin this unique collaboration features Karnatic concert music and Kattaikkuttu theatre on the same stage and explores where both forms meet and where they differ.

Performers: TM Krishna, Sangeetha Sivakumar, Akkarai Subhalakshmi, N Guruprasad and Anirudh Athreya, P Rajagopal, A Kailasam, R Kumar, P Moorthy, Hanne M de Bruin, S Vijayan, A Selvarasu, P Sasikumar, S Tamilarasi, S Gobinath, A Bharathi, K Venda, S Srimathy.

6:30 to 7:30 pm Khindan Charittiram | கிந்தன் சரித்திரம்

By Perch, Chennai| | பெர்ச் குழு, சென்னை

Kindhan Charithiram is a light-hearted, musical play that follows the colourful life of Kindhan with key figures like a Banyan Tree, a Tea-master, and MGR playing a pivotal role. Developed in just 20 days through collaborative storytelling and improvisation, the play emphasizes fun and community, offering a joyful escape from the challenges of everyday life. Songs from Tamil film icon MGR add a nostalgic and socially resonant touch make the play it an engaging experience for all audiences.

Performers: Maya SK, Dharani and David; Director: Rajiv Krishnan.

7:30 to 8:30 pm P Rajagopal’s RamaRavana | ராமராவணா

Kattaikkuttu Sangam members, Punjarasantankal | P.  ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

RamaRavana (2011) is a radical re-envisioning of 4 scenes from the famous Ramayana epic. Rajagopal presents Rama and Ravana as mirror images of each other while questioning their behaviour of using Sita and Shurpanakha as pivots to hang on onto power.

Performers: J Loganathan, T Rangasami, T Veluchami, R Mahalakshmi, K Venda, P Moorthy, M Doraisami, S Tamilarasi, P Thilagavati, A Kandipan, S Srimathy, A Dillibabu, S Gobinath, A Selvarasu, M Kumaresan; Author & director P Rajagopal.

6:15 pm Lighting of the lamp by the guests of honor Thiru SR Gandhi, IRPFS, Director & Thiru B. Hemanathan, Deputy Director, Department of Art and Culture, Chennai, in the presence of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan and Dr. Ajit Yadav, Chief Patrons of the Kattaikkuttu Sangam.

துவக்கம் | திரு SR காந்தி, IRPFS, கலை பண்பாட்டுத் துறை இயக்குநர் & திரு B. ஹேமநாதன், கலை பண்பாட்டுத் துறை துணை இயக்குநர், சென்னை

6:30 to 7:15 pm Alli Thilagam | அல்லி திலகம்

By Thilagavathi, Kalavai | திலகவதி, கலவை

A contemporary creation, using elements from Kattaikkuttu, drama and movement, Alli Thilagam explores the intertwined personal and public lives of women performers. The performance highlights the challenges that come with being a queen-artist. Framed as a rehearsal for a new play about Queen Allirani, the performance weaves together stories from the Mahabharata and contemporary themes of gender, marriage and women's resilience. Through the narrative, Alli emerges as a figure sculpted by valour, wisdom and compassion - and no less, Thilaga.

Performers: P Thilagavathi, J Loganathan, E Periyasamy.

7:15 to 8:30 pm P Rajagopal’s Parkadal | பாற்கடல்

Kattaikkuttu Sangam members, Punjarasantankal | P.  ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் கட்டைக்கூத்து சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், புஞ்சரசந்தாங்கல்

Parkadal or The Milky Ocean (2006) is a contemporary parody on the old Hindu creation myth of the churning of the ocean by the gods and the asuras. Featuring the Siamese twin Kattiyakkarans Undu (To Be) and Illai (Not to Be), the play explores how our search for identity links up with global themes of power, competition and the exploitation of natural wealth—and the violent and dehumanizing effects these have on mankind and the earth. What would emerge when we would churn the waters of the ocean today? Even when there would be enough for everyone, why don’t we share equally?

Performers: S Vijayan, A Dillibabu, T Veluchamy, R Mahalakshmi, P Moorthy, R Kumar, A Kandipan, S Gobinath, S Srimathy, S Tamilarasi, K Venda, B Saravanan, P Rajagopal (director).

Collaborative performance showcasing Kattaikkuttu and Karnatic music on the same stage conceptualized by P Rajagopal, TM Krishna, Sangeetha Sivakumar, Hanne M de Bruin; accompanied by Kattaikkuttu & Karnatic ensembles.

We are looking forward to receive the Netherlands Ambassador in India, Mrs. Marisa Gerards and her husband, at the Kattaikkuttu Sangam. We are incredibly happy that CULTURE is on the diplomatic map again. Please join us for a short programme at our beautiful space in honor of our esteemed visitors.

Contemporary dance performance choreographed by Mandeep Raikhy

Hallucinations of an Artifact brings the Dancing Girl figurine from the Indus Valley civilization (c. 2300-1750 BCE) to life through dance and artificial intelligence. It pushes back at the multiple assertions that have been made on behalf of the figurine over the years.

New production conceptualized by P. Rajagopal and Hanne M. de Bruin inspired by and in response to the classical ballet La Bayadère and the representation of the oriental woman performers in Europe; Tamil script & direction: P. Rajagopal

Guest performance of Sangeetha Payithiyam, a musical-comedy-satire written by Pammal Sambanda Mudaliyaar & presented by Shraddha Theatre, Chennai.

Direction: G. Krishnamurthy

Writing - Adaptation: Swaminathan

Music: Janani, Kavitha, Vidyalakshmi

Produced by: Prema Sadasivam

தியேட்டர் ஷ்ரத்தா வழங்கும் பம்மல் சம்பந்த முதலியாரின் சங்கீதப் பயித்தம் (நகைச்சுவைகலந்தஇசைநாடகம்)

இயக்கம்: ஜி. கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி
எழுத்து & நாடகமாக்கம்: சுவாமிநாதன்
இசை: ஜனனி, கவிதா, விதியாலக்ஷ்மி
தயாரிப்பு: பிரேமா சதாசிவம்

On the 18th day of the war, Sahadeva kills Sakuni and Dharmaraja kills King Salya. With the exception of the Kattiyakkaran (Herald-cum-Clown), Duryodhana is the sole survivor on the Kaurava side.

Bhima has vowed to kill Duryodhana. To escape Bhima’s fury, Duryodhana hides himself in the Sabarmati River. Submerged in water he invokes the Sanjivani mantra that will enable him to bring his armies back to life. But before he can complete the mantra Bhima discovers him and flushes him out.

In the culminating duel, Bhima kills Duryodhana by hitting him on the thigh – after Arjuna, as instructed by Krishna, signals Duryodhana’s true weak spot to Bhima.

The Festival concludes with the coronation of Dharmaraja and Draupadi.

On the 17th day of the war, Duryodhana makes Karna his army-general. Before going to the battlefield, Karna takes leave of his wife Ponnuruvi who despises him because of his perceived low caste. On her request, he reveals that he is Kunti’s son and the elder brother of the Pandavas.

After coming to know that he is of royal descent, Ponnuruvi changes her mind and asks him to join the Pandavas. Karna refuses and tells her he will forever remain loyal to his friend Duryodhana, who helped him when he needed it most. Foreseeing his own death on the battlefield, he advises Ponnuruvi to join the Pandavas after the war is over. They will take care of her.

 After a tearful farewell Karna leaves for the battlefield where he is killed by Arjuna who is unaware of the fact that Karna is his half-brother. Before he dies, Krishna shows Karna his Visvarupa and promises him that he will be reborn to fulfil a final unfinished duty and to attain moksha in his next life.

On the 13th day of the war, Guru Drona vows to capture Dharmaraja. Krishna knows that and so he asks Dharma’s brothers to protect him on all four sides. Drona then sends an army to distract Arjuna and lure him far away from Dharma. Forced to leave his position, Arjuna appoints his16 year-old son Abhimanyu to protect Dharma instead.

Abhimanyu humiliates Drona and kills Duryodhana’s son. Enraged Drona orders the formation of the Chakravyuha. Knowing how to enter this labyrinth-like army formation, but unaware how to get out of it, Abhimanyu is caught in the Chakravyuha.

Duryodhana, Drona and all senior warriors on the Kaurava side then engage Abhimanyu in a unequal fight during which they cut off his hands, legs and finally sever his head. The 13th day of the war ends with Abhimanyu’s unjust death.

After 12 years in the forest and one year incognito, the Pandavas send Krishna as messenger to Hastinapura to demand their country back. Before setting off on his embassy, Krishna consults the Pandavas and Draupadi on what he should say.

When Krishna enters the assembly of the Kauravas, he is met with a deafening silence. This is followed by a fierce argument between Duryodhana and Krishna. It highlights, in exquisite Tamil, Krishna’s war-inducing peace initiative, which ends in Duryodhana slapping his hand on that of Krishna as a declaration of war.

During the 13th year of their exile, the Pandavas live in disguise in the kingdom of Virata. Draupadi is the beautiful servant-maid of Virata’s Queen, Sudesna. Seeing her, Sudesna’s younger brother, the powerful and lustful Kicaka, desires her.

Draupadi tricks Kicaka into a night-time meeting with her, but arranges it in such a way that he will not embrace her but Bhima disguised as Draupadi. Bhima violently kills Kicaka, tearing him into two.

Duryodhana believes that the Pandavas must have died in the forest during their exile. He sets an unusual date for their death ceremony in order to prevent them from going to heaven in their afterlife. This ceremony will also declare the Pandavas dead and prevent them from re-entering civil society, even if they were still alive.

To stop the ceremony, Krishna sends Draupadi in the disguise of a Kuratti or a lady of the Kurava clan to Hastinapura. Draupadi tells fortune to the Kaurava Queens. She ends her séance by predicting that their husbands will be killed in an upcoming war. Unhappy with the prediction, the Kaurava ladies refuse to pay her and send her instead to King Duryodhana.

Suspecting she might be Draupadi, Duryodhana jails the Kuratti. To rescue her, Krishna sends Arjuna disguised as Kuravan. Kidnapping Duryodhana’s wife Bhanumati, Arjuna negotiates the release of Draupadi-the-Kuratti and demands that his wife gets paid her proper coolie.

All-night performance by the Kattaikkuttu Sangam’s Repertory Company

On the advice of Vyasa, Dharma sends Arjuna to obtain the Pasupata weapon from Lord Shiva by performing penance. On his way to Mount Kailasa, Arjuna’s resolve is tested by Krishna disguised as the enchantress Mohini. Arjuna rejects Mohini’s advances; Krishna reveals his real identity and blesses Arjuna.

 Subsequently, Arjuna is accosted by a beautiful forest temptress, Kantaperanti. He spurns her advances too. She lies to her husband that Arjuna has raped her. They fight and, finally, Arjuna pardons him at Peranti’s pleading.

 At last, Arjuna gets the Pasupati weapon from the hands of Lord Shiva and Parvati in the garb of hunters after they have challenged him about the killing of a boar.

All-night performance by the Kattaikkuttu Sangam’s Repertory Company.

After the royal sacrifice, Duryodhana becomes increasingly jealous of the Pandavas' eminence. He also wants revenge for the humiliation he experienced when he fell and Draupadi ridiculed him.

 He sends Vidura to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapura. Meanwhile, he constructs a special, five-pillared hall where a fraudulent game of dice takes place between Sakuni and Dharmaraja or Yudhishthira. During the dice game, Dharma loses his country, his brothers and himself. At last, he stakes and loses his wife Draupadi.

Duryodhana orders his younger brother Duhsasana to bring Draupadi to the court. Draupadi refuses and Duhsasana drags her by the hair to the assembly. There Draupadi wants to know whether her husband Dharmaraja lost her in the game of dice prior to or after losing himself. The royal assembly remains silent except for Vikarna who objects against Draupadi’s mistreatment and is forcefully removed from the court.

Duryodhana commands Duhsana to disrobe Draupadi. Draupadi surrenders to Lord Krishna. A furious and mad Duhsana pulls and pulls at Draupadi’s sari but is unable to disrobe her because for every sari he removes a new one appears. Astonished and afraid he falls down exhausted.

Draupadi vows that she will not tie up her hair until she has dressed it with Duryodhana’s blood and combed it with a rib taken from his body. Realising the desperate turn of events, Duryodhana’s father King Dhritarashtra  promises to return everything that Dharma has gambled away. In the final scene – an innovation added by P. Rajagopal to the traditional play - Draupadi challenges Duryodhana to a last game of dice directly opposing her. It is this game she wins, enabling her and her husbands to go into 12 years of exile as free people.

All-night performance of Draupadi Kuravanchi (குறவஞ்சி) by the Kattaikkuttu Sangam’s Repertory Company at Pullalur Village near Takkolam.

The Pandavas hear from the trouble-stirring sage Narada that their late father has not gone to heaven. To help him do so, they have to carry out a sacrifice. With the advice of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima are able to defeat King Jarasandha, who keeps 366 kings imprisoned.

After the kings have been released, they agree to help the Pandavas with the royal sacrifice. On the day of the royal sacrifice, Duryodhana slips and falls, mistaking a polished floor surface for a lake. Draupadi and her lady-friends laugh at him. Duryodhana feels humiliated and, as we shall see in the next episode, plans revenge.

During the sacrifice Krishna is given the first honour. King Sisubala rises in fury, objecting that the first honour cannot go to a mere herdsman. A fight ensues during which Krishna kills Sisubala by  severing his head with his chakra.

During this violent encounter Krishna cuts his finger. Draupadi offers him the outer-end of her sari to stop the bleeding. Krishna promises her that whenever she needs it, he will return the favour in kind. He does so when he replenishes her sarees in the next episode.