Macbeth, in Malayalam

I dont understand a word of Malayalam.

However, just like Tuesday nights Gabarghichor, I soon realized that knowing the language wasnt a precursor to being moved by the performance. From the opening strains of ominous, Indian-sounding music, I knew this was a new kind of Macbeth  surreal, sinister, haunting  and driven more by psychosis than narrative.

The set and costume design was impeccable, with lighting that bathed the scenes in red, white, and black, establishing an ominous mise-en scene.Meanwhile, the music contributed significantly to my understanding of important moments, punctuating dialogues in an almost operatic manner.

Finally, there were the actors, who were brilliant. The ensemble s theatrics and body language arguably contributed most significantly to the overall ambiance of the play. Their hunched over, downtrodden fallen angels,  graceful backward movements in themselves disorienting for the audience and caped, ghost-like behavior illustrated the three protagonists internal struggles beautifully. Abhija Shivakala as Lady Macbeth, seemingly half-witch half-woman with her shrieks, twirls, and long, black hair, deserves a notable mention as well.