29 December 2023, 02:00 AM IST
Kollam: Kollam is the birthplace of artist Prashanth Narayanan, who passed away on Thursday. Prashanth, who made a name for himself in the field of art through Kathakali, later came to the School of Drama after hearing the call of drama, where he befriended P.J. Unnikrishnan, a former student and dramatist.
Later in 1995 when K. Ravindranathan Nair started the Sopanam Center for Performing Arts under the Kollam Public Library, P.J. Unnikrishnan, the coordinator, invited Prasanth to become a teacher.
Prashanth was a teacher who was not ready for any compromise when it came to drama, the days of drama, quarrels, gossip… It was during this time that the first seeds of the play Chhayamukhi germinated in Prashant Narayanan. It was from a folk song that I heard while traveling, about a mirror that shows the will of the beholder.
A drama was born out of the tears of the wild girl, who was waiting to see Bhima’s face by presenting him with a mirror. A whole country welcomed Chayamukhi with open arms through Niravil Prakash Kala Kendra. Prakash Kalakendram’s Chayamukhi won Special Jury Awards for Best Writing, Actor and Presentation at the 2003 Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Drama Competition.
In 2005, the play was invited to the International Drama Festival organized by the National School of Drama in Delhi. Even though he was not in a good financial condition, he worked hard and came to Delhi with Chayamukhi. It was a highly acclaimed presentation. The play was performed all over Kerala.
It was only after watching the performance at Kollam Sopanam that he decided to take on the role of director for Kalidasa Visual Magic along with actor Mukesh Mohanlal. With that, the head of the artist Prashanth Narayanan changed. Although many connections with Kollam have been lost over time, Kollam is a land where Prashanth has many disciples and friends. Chayamukh’s couplets are heard even today in some evenings in Neera.
