KPAC' second drama ‘Ningalenne Communistakki’ (You Made Me a Communist), was a path-breaking play in the history of communism in Kerala. It was first staged in Chavara Thattassery Sudarsana theatre in Kollam district on December 6, 1952. Thoppil Bhasi wrote the play which portrayed the transition of an elderly man from a conservative upper-caste Hindu into a Communist. Later, the drama was made as a film in 1970 with evergreen hero Prem Nazir in the lead.
After fifty-six years, the drama is now coming back with a sequel by Soman, son of Thoppil Bhasi. The sequel, titled ‘Enum Ente Thampranum’ (Me and My Lord), is all set to be staged in August. The drama will have a few characters from the original.
Characters like Paramu Pillai, a farmer who symbolises fertile land, his wife Kalyani Amma, Karumban and Pappu will be part of the new drama which will deal with a situation when these characters exist in 2008, their experiences and hopes. Kanaka Prasad KPAC, secretary of Thoppil Bhasi Theatres, will don the role of Pillai. O.N.V. Kurup will pen the songs.
Though ‘Ningalenne Communistakki’ made history in Malayalam theatre by becoming the first play to be staged more than 10,000 times, the play faced a lot of trouble in the past from the authorities. Alleging that the drama propagated “subversive ideas” and encouraged the people to “rebel against the government”, Thiruvananthapuram District Magistrate banned the play in March 1953 under the Dramatic Performances Act.
Defying this ban, the troupe staged the play at Kovalam, near Thiruvananthapuram. All the artists were arrested and a case was registered against them. But the Communist party initiated and led a mass movement against the ban. Two months later, on a review petition, the High Court declared the ban illegal. The ban and the following incidents heightened the popularity of the play, which was staged in several cities across the country including Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
