Jeevante Malakha

A creative and magical depiction of a beautiful story! Jeevante Malakha tells the story of an intellectually disabled man named Faisal and his daughter, Diya. The story is set in a place which is under the oppressive eyes of military rule. The protagonist, Faisal is living happily with his daughter, whom he loves more than anything, and his mother is supportive and protective of him. In an unfortunate turn of events, Faisal is wrongly accused of killing the daughter of a colonel, and is imprisoned, separating him from his daughter and mother. As the story unfolds, one is inevitably left to root for Faisal, and wish that he receives justice.

As captivating as the narrative are the visuals in this play. The mise en scène creates a dream-like illusionary effect and transports one into the plot of the play. The set in Jeevante Malakha is built with great craftsmanship and absolute flair, keeping in mind the various ways in which this conjoined structure can be used in different scenes. Built on two levels, this structure has many exits and entry points, which creates illusions, and makes the play magical. This structure transforms into Faisal's home, the prison, and many more. As important as the set is the lighting in this play. The lighting sets the mood of the scenes, and the interplay between light and darkness further supports the flow of the narrative.

The ensemble ties the play together, with their strong presence and acting. The musical elements within the play, and  the movements of the ensemble, shifts the focus towards the angst of living under oppression.

With a strong ensemble, a beautiful plot, and a creative mise-en scene, Jeevante Malakha, written and performed in malayalam, directed by OT Shajahan, and produced by Athlete Kayika Nadakavedhi, will be performed on 16th March at the 20th Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards at Kamani Auditorium.