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Whodunnit?
 Gitanjali’s Amirtham Gopal presented their new play ‘Andha Naal Vandathu’ (‘That day came’ – a suspense-filled crime thriller), under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts, at Narada Gana Sabha hall, June 1.
Any play, staged after an earlier programme that takes away 75 minutes, tends to get the audience restive. This play was no exception. The play appeared to be longer than it was. Nevertheless, it could have been pruned by at least 15-20 minutes. An RTP after 9 p.m. in a vocal concert is an illustrative comparison.
Krishnamurthy (Power Gopal) has a termagant wife suffering from terminal illness. All doctors have given up hope. However, Dr Srikanth (K Raja) assures that he can save the patient. Before the surgeon could succeed in this mission, he gets murdered. Incriminating evidences point to Rekha, the doctor’s wife, as the probable murderess. Later, the doctor’s Man-Friday, pious Xavier, also gets murdered. The needle of suspicion again points towards Rekha. She has questionable associations, though she has not crossed the limits. She has pined for the company of her doctor husband, more often denied to her. She had serious differences of opinion with her hubby on this account. Xavier knows all this.
Family lawyer (Pothilingam) unravels the mystery, knot by knot, eliminating possible murderers one by one. The finale is quite suspenseful. The denouement of the play is cleverly steered. Kudos to playwright-director Augusto are quite in order.
Power Gopal as Krishnamurthy (tends to overact), Suba Ganesan, as Rekha, the prime suspect (very casual), Raja as doctor Srikanth, eliminated early, Ram Ramanujan as the police inspector (needless bully), Raam Kumar as the doctor’s Man-Friday Xavier, and other side characters Balaji, Palani, Sakthi and Krishnamurthy comprise the dramatis personae. Sets, music and light effects have been well handled by Madurai Kannan and Kitcha respectively.
Repeat - careful and judicious planning would have earned for Augusto more well-deserved appreciation.
The earlier event was Kartik Fine Arts’ Summer Drama Festival’s Awards Distribution function that stood out for its precise clockwork schedule.
Kartik Fine Arts decretaries R Rajagopal and M R Krishnamurthy were suitably honoured for their distinguished services over several decades.
R. Srinivasan
Ph: 24355576
r_seema30@hotmail.com
Published on 8th
June 2004
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