Mumbai Tamil Initiatives presented Nadahakkaran’s Tamil play titled ‘Pass Mark’ at the
Y G P Auditorium, Bharat
Kalachar, on Sunday, 21st March, 2004.
The two-hour play has a lofty theme and, therefore, has to sustain itself mainly by its forceful punchy dialogues. Mathematics Professor Gururajan
(A S Raman) is irrevocably wedded to idealistic principles. Impeccably honest and totally incorruptible, even under utmost tempting circumstances, he remains stoically firm, driving away powerful pressures unflinchingly. His daughter’s marriage proposals, his son’s employment prospects and unbelievably lucrative monetary offers are all brushed aside summarily, without a moment’s hesitation. He would not ‘promote’ undeserving students, who have fared poorly in vital examinations. If they have written their examinations fairly and squarely they will certainly get ‘pass mark’.” I’ll not give even one mark extra without fair justification, come what may!” –this is his firm stand. It is an examination for him and his own ‘ideals’ and he gets ‘top marks’ in it. This is the fair summary of the play.
Situations are woven round the Professor’s ideals so naturally (we do meet such corrupt elements all the time in ‘our’ world of ‘practical compromises’) that the hero, Professor Gururajan, towers like a colossus bestriding the narrow world leaving the ruins behind him firmly. The characterization is powerful, though one does muse often, can there be amidst us such a giant among pygmies in today’s context!
His close family friend Advocate Rangachari (playwright Bombay Balu) is more practical, as a man of the world, who like a typical lawyer that he is, tries his best to argue the Professor out of his firm resolutions, and fails miserably. The actor, however, secures first class marks. The Professor’s mentor and well-wisher Sangameshwara Sastrigal
(M R Moorthy), who had shaped Gururajan from his boyhood, admires his ward and lauds him without reservations. He is proud of him. The warm portrayal is commendable.
The others – son Prabhu
(K Chandar) , his ‘love’ Latha (Subha Ganesan) and the born-corrupt elements politician Pancharatnam (Kuppuswamy), Manivannan (Bhoopalan) , Son-in-law Suresh (though married 12 years ago he is unable to join his wife because he could not get pass marks in Maths), suave, successful businessman Mahadevan (Typist Gopu) and fellow students – all serve to place the professor on a high pedestal. ‘They also serve who stand and wait.
The play moves slowly, as there is not much of a story. Raman and Balu have directed the play reasonably well.
G Sundaresan has produced the play.
We do yearn wistfully for more Professors like Gururajan in all walks of life in our real world .We know it is a pipe dream. All the same, we enjoy the Professor’s stage presence for two hours as a pleasant interlude. ‘Pass Mark’ gets a very comfortable pass mark.
R Srinivasan
18 A , IV Main Road,
R.A.Puram,
Chennai 600 028.
Phone 24355576
E-Mail to: Annie_thomaz@yahoo.co.in
Mumbai Tamil Initiatives presented Nadahakkaran’s Tamil play titled ‘Pass Mark’ at the
Y G P Auditorium, 
