Niyamavarthanam raises uncomfortable questions on spiritual dogmatism and a girl’s autonomy over her personal physique

Members of Rasa Theatre Collective.

Rasa Theatre Collective’s unique manufacturing Niyamavarthanam will premiere of their studio at One Little Earth, Thripunithura, this weekend.

Niyamavarthanam, written and directed by theatre maker and practitioner Rahul Thomas, is a household drama set in a Kerala Christian family in immediately’s occasions. The narrative pivots round Appachan, a quintessential patriarch, and his two daughters – Lissy and Nancy.  

Lissy is married to Antony, they usually have a 14-year-old daughter Angel. Issues go awry when Lissy realises she is pregnant and doesn’t need to go forward with it. Appachan is suitably upset as he had raised his household to be “God-fearing and rule-abiding”. 

What ensues is a battle between perception and pragmatism, particular person and institution, feminism and patriarchy. The play raises uncomfortable questions on spiritual dogmatism and a girl’s autonomy over her personal physique. “Coming from a Christian household, I felt I could speak with a certain degree of authority,” says Rahul. “We wanted to tell a story that is relevant to the times. This play is not about shunning religion, but an exploration of how one can function as a progressive individual within the framework of religion,” he provides. 

The title of the Malayalam play, Niyamavarthanam, is borrowed from a e book from the Outdated Testomony and “it means a list of rules that God has given for people to live by,” says Rahul. Whereas Rahul performs Appachan, Sharanya R. performs Lissy. Sidharth Varma portays Antony, and Pooja Pankaj is Nancy. Anjali Sunilkumar and Ramesh Warrier comprise the remainder of the solid. Anagha Unni is the artistic collaborator. Charles Joseph and Nirupama Thomas are on manufacturing assist and set design.

Rahul, together with Sidharth Varma, fashioned Rasa Theatre Collective with an intention to create modern theatre performances that mirror the Indian social-cultural and political milieu. Their first play, Gajam, produced in 2021, was based mostly on human-animal battle. 

Niyamavarthanam, a 75-minute play, might be staged on April 22 and 23, at 4 p.m. and seven p.m. at One Little Earth in Thripunithura. For tickets, attain out to 90723-27121.