By Shevlin Sebastian
Pic: Joseph pleads with the prostitute to give shelter to him, Mary and the Baby Jesus
One morning, in early December, RLV Gopi, founder of the
Kochi-based Kerala Kalakshethra met his friend KV Moncy, a Christian. The
latter told Gopi, “Can you do a Christmas play?” Gopi, who is a Kathakali maestro,
thought it was a good idea. He spoke to his colleague, Kalamandalam Ganesh. The
latter read the Bible as well as writer Paul Zacharia’s novel, ‘Aarkariyam’,
wrote the script and titled it Raksagan (The Saviour). Then Kalamandalam
Sudheesh composed the music.
The story is a familiar one for Christians. King Herod of
Judea came to know that a baby had been born who would become the future King.
“So he ordered his soldiers to kill all babies below two years of age,” says
Gopi, who directed the performance. “Joseph and Mary, along with the Baby Jesus
escape to Egypt. On the way, they stop at a brothel for the night. After a
while, a soldier, with blood-stained clothes, arrives. Quickly, the trio is
placed in another room. The prostitute prepares a warm bath, food and a change
of clothes for the soldier.”
They start talking. The soldier talks about how he has
killed several babies. “The killing of innocent babies is a greater sin than
that of being a prostitute,” says the woman. The soldier feels guilty and
repentant. As he goes to take a bath, Joseph, Mary and Jesus, with the help of
the woman, make good their escape. The prostitute does not know he is the Baby
Jesus.
The dance drama was performed at the Karayogam of the Nair
Service Society at Ambaloor recently. Fr. Vincent Parambathara, of the nearby
St. Francis Church, who inaugurated the event, says, “It was a very nice
performance.”
Indeed, the emotions shown were intense. In one scene,
Joseph, accompanied by his wife and child pleaded with the woman to give them
shelter. She listened attentively, shook her head in horror when told about the
killings and then welcomed them with open arms. The gamut of expressions was
impressive to see.
This is the first time in the 12-year history of the Kerala
Kalakshethra, which is supported by the Central Ministry of Culture, that they
have done a Christian theme. “If opportunities come up in future, we will do
more such plays,” says Gopi.
(The New Indian Express, Koch)
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