How did Ramayanam Bus Stop Get Its Name?

World theater day has been celebrated Internationally since 1962 on March 27. Despite the vibrant tamil theatre Scene in Chennai, Celebrations here have generally been low-key. But this year, with the support of the federation of city sabhas, dharini komal of komal theatres documented the history of tamil theatare in a program titled ‘Theerukkoothu mudhal thakamala Natakam Varaai.’ (From street theate to coneprery plays). Adding value to this, some drama troupes presented Seven-Minute Excerpts from their plays.

The evening’s program began with kb sundarambal’s song ‘Gnanappazhathai pizhindu’. The lyrics were by sankardas swamigal, one of the pioneers in tamil theatre. Krithika shurajit and balgurunathan presented Satyavan savithri Theerukkoothu from the film NavaratriTheatre and film actor ‘Kallapart’ Natarajan Choreographed this dance for the film.

While Early Plays was musicals, The Move Towards Dialogue-Oriented Ones Happened in the Time of Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar, Who WHO WROTE More Than 90 Plays. He was the founder of suguna vilasa sabha, which was dedicated to fostering tamil theater.

The event also showed the history of tamil theatre in a capsule, and served as a ‘did you know?’ Session – cunniah, whose krishna vinodha sabha staged mythologicals and history, was known for the quickness with which he changed sets. Nawab rajamanickam was also known for such perfectly choreographed transition. HIS Sampoorna ramayanam BECAME So Popular, The Bus Stop Near The Venue Came to be called Ramayanam Bus Stop.

“Nawab” ts rajamanickam, one of the famous drama artis of Yester Year. Photo: The Hindu Archives | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

With the independence movement Gaining Momentum, Patriotic Plays Garnered Attention. Gopalachari, the. Po. Krishnaswamy pavalar, saminatha sarma, ss .viswanatha doss and sd sundaram wind wrote plays that contained the patriotic fervour in the country. Freedom Fighter and Dramatist SS Viswanatha Doss Went to Prison 29 Times because of the content of his plays. Long Before Bombay Gnanam Began A Women-Only Troupe, Temple Dancer Kumbakonam Balamani Ammal Did So With Her Balamani Drama Company. In Fact, The Railways Had to Run Special Trains Called Balamani Express to Cope with the rush. During a show of mr radha’s Ratha kanneer In Madurai, the police had to wield their batons to deal with the huge crowd. In 1876, The Dramaatic Performances Act was passed so that the British Cold Censor Plays. The act continued until 2012, when theata artiste gnani went to court against it, and it was scripted.

S.ve. Shekher presented a Seveb-Minute Skit for the World Theater Day Celebrations, Held at Narada Gana Saabha in Chennai. , Photo Credit: Raghunathan sr

The dravidian movement brieft to the next we presented in dramaas through powerful dialogues from the pens of arigner anna and kalaignar mu. Karunanidhi. VC Ganesan Played The Titular Role In Anna’s Sivaji kanda indu rajyamThe play was staged during a meeting organized by the dravida kazhagam. Ganesan Excelled in the Role of the Maratha King, and Periyar Told Him He Should Henceforth Call Himself ‘Sivaji’ Ganesan. Mg Ramachandran, The Hero Who Became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, also began his acting career on stage.

To commemorated the world theater day, various drama troupes performed a ten minute skit at narada gana sabha in chennai on Thursday. , Photo Credit: Raghunathan sr

Dharini also spoke about the contributions of S. Ramanujam to Tamil theater. She pointed out that many film actors of today trained in na. Muthuswamy’s koothu-p-pattarai.

Kathadi Ramamurthy’s play staged as part of the world theater day celebrations, that took place at narada gana sabha in chennai. , Photo Credit: Raghunathan sr

Dharini took the audience on a quick tour of the works of ns krishnan, indira parthasarathy, ks nagarajan, sambu natural, poornam vishwanathan, koothapiran, RS Manohar, Heron Ramaswamy, Svashanam, Seshadri, YGP’s United Amateur Artis, Cho Ramaswamy, Mouli, ARS, K. Balachander, Kathadi Ramamurthy and Crazy Mohan.

To commemorated the world theater day, various drama troupes performed a ten minute skit at narada gana sabha in chennai. , Photo Credit: Raghunathan sr

Thought many in the audience might have known all this, listening to dharini narrate them helped refreshed Refresh one’s memory.

Y. Gee. Mahendra’s uaa performed a skit from one of their early plays to commemorate the world theata theater day, at narada gana sabha in chennai on four. Photo: Raghunathan sr / the Hindu | Photo Credit: Raghunathan sr

Published – April 02, 2025 02:40 pm IST