A forgotten Malayalam theatre artiste, Ochira Velukutty Asan, who played female roles at a time when women did not enter the stage, will be brought to life this weekend in Jagriti Theatre. Directed and performed by actor Santhosh Keezhattoor, the play 'Pen Nadan' or 'The Female Actor' is his interpretation of the artiste's little known life.
Through the character of Paputty Asan, Keezhattoor will depict how men who played the role of women had to constantly face questions about their gender.
When Keezhattoor was in Gujarat to work with a theatre group, he visited a memorial in the name of Jai Shankar Sundari, a theatre artiste who played female roles. "There were so many such actors in the history of Malayalam theatre but hardly anyone knew them. This inspired me to find out more about Velukutty's life."
The play is being performed outside Kerala for the first time and will be staged in other cities and even abroad.
The solo performance requires Keezhattoor to perform female roles, something he has never done before. "Now I understand what women go through because even though I am only playing a role, it makes me uncomfortable the way men gaze at me," Keezhattoor said.
With music, costumes and sets replicating the atmosphere of the 1930s, the play is historic but with a premise which is relevant even today. "There is a lot of discussion these days on gender identity and discrimination. But this is not something new. Such issues existed even a century ago," Keezhattoor said.
![]( "Ochira Velukutty Asan")
A forgotten Malayalam theatre artiste, Ochira Velukutty Asan, who played female roles at a time when women did not enter the stage, will be brought to life this weekend in Jagriti Theatre. Directed and performed by actor Santhosh Keezhattoor, the play 'Pen Nadan’ or 'The Female Actor’ is his interpretation of the artiste’s little known life.
Through the character of Paputty Asan, Keezhattoor will depict how men who played the role of women had to constantly face questions about their gender.
When Keezhattoor was in Gujarat to work with a theatre group, he visited a memorial in the name of Jai Shankar Sundari, a theatre artiste who played female roles. "There were so many such actors in the history of Malayalam theatre but hardly anyone knew them. This inspired me to find out more about Velukutty’s life.”
The play is being performed outside Kerala for the first time and will be staged in other cities and even abroad.
The solo performance requires Keezhattoor to perform female roles, something he has never done before. "Now I understand what women go through because even though I am only playing a role, it makes me uncomfortable the way men gaze at me,” Keezhattoor said.
With music, costumes and sets replicating the atmosphere of the 1930s, the play is historic but with a premise which is relevant even today. "There is a lot of discussion these days on gender identity and discrimination. But this is not something new. Such issues existed even a century ago,” Keezhattoor said.
Through the character of Paputty Asan, Keezhattoor will depict how men who played the role of women had to constantly face questions about their gender.
When Keezhattoor was in Gujarat to work with a theatre group, he visited a memorial in the name of Jai Shankar Sundari, a theatre artiste who played female roles. "There were so many such actors in the history of Malayalam theatre but hardly anyone knew them. This inspired me to find out more about Velukutty's life."
The play is being performed outside Kerala for the first time and will be staged in other cities and even abroad.
The solo performance requires Keezhattoor to perform female roles, something he has never done before. "Now I understand what women go through because even though I am only playing a role, it makes me uncomfortable the way men gaze at me," Keezhattoor said.
With music, costumes and sets replicating the atmosphere of the 1930s, the play is historic but with a premise which is relevant even today. "There is a lot of discussion these days on gender identity and discrimination. But this is not something new. Such issues existed even a century ago," Keezhattoor said.
A forgotten Malayalam theatre artiste, Ochira Velukutty Asan, who played female roles at a time when women did not enter the stage, will be brought to life this weekend in Jagriti Theatre. Directed and performed by actor Santhosh Keezhattoor, the play 'Pen Nadan’ or 'The Female Actor’ is his interpretation of the artiste’s little known life. Through the character of Paputty Asan, Keezhattoor will depict how men who played the role of women had to constantly face questions about their gender.
When Keezhattoor was in Gujarat to work with a theatre group, he visited a memorial in the name of Jai Shankar Sundari, a theatre artiste who played female roles. "There were so many such actors in the history of Malayalam theatre but hardly anyone knew them. This inspired me to find out more about Velukutty’s life.”
The play is being performed outside Kerala for the first time and will be staged in other cities and even abroad.
The solo performance requires Keezhattoor to perform female roles, something he has never done before. "Now I understand what women go through because even though I am only playing a role, it makes me uncomfortable the way men gaze at me,” Keezhattoor said.
With music, costumes and sets replicating the atmosphere of the 1930s, the play is historic but with a premise which is relevant even today. "There is a lot of discussion these days on gender identity and discrimination. But this is not something new. Such issues existed even a century ago,” Keezhattoor said.