Stage Plays of K.S.Balachandran
Although I wrote several radio plays back home in Sri Lanka,
I had few plays of mine staged over there.
But since coming over to Canada, I've written over 25 Tamil stage plays, which were staged several times and well appreciated.
KALADDAKKARKAL( Pranksters)- a satire on the elderly immigrants' life in a new country with their siblings. They feel unhappy over the attitude of their own children and eagarly awaits the day of their return to their motherland.
KANAVUGALUM THEEVUKALUM ( Dreams and Islands)- A play about a family which after facing hardships due to the civil war migrates to Canada with their dreams. But their lives were changed unexpectedly and their dreams remain elusive to them.
KURANGU KAI THALAYANAI...(In the hands of monkey) - Again with Civil war as background, three sisters were separated and living in three regions. Youngest in war torn village of Kilinochchi, eldest in capital city of Colombo with fear for reprisal from racist elements and the middle sister in Toronto worrying about her sisters and the widowed mother living alone in their ancestoral home in Jaffna, where the war is actually fought.
ENGO THOLAIVIL( Far away)- Many immigrant youths work very hard for the sake of their families back home, but on many occasions their own family members does not understand them. Here a youth facing similar situation finally ends up in an asylum.
THALAI MURAIGAL( Generations)- Due to the generation gap prevailing in the community with lack of communication, a grandfather feels alienated from his ever busy son and a grandson who speaks a different language. But as the gap between the grand father and grand son narrows down, by destiny the old man was made to return to his homeland.
With melodious songs and folk dances, this play was a beauty.
MADI PITCHAI(Begging bowl)- With four characters, a father, mother, son and daughter-in-law, this play begins in a comical tone but at the end makes the audience cry with the old woman's appeal to help the unfortunate people back home.
KUYIL PATTU( Song of a Kukkoo bird)- An adaptation from poetry written by great Tamil Poet Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathi, this play was entertaining with philosophical under tone. Birds and animals communicate with human beings in this poetrical play.
THALLU VANDIKKARAKAL(The Pushcart peddlers)- an adaptation from an English play, this play depicts the human nature and its meaness in an immigrant community. An immigrant using his longer stay in a new country as a tool swindles a just arrived immigrant. Funny dialoques with a purpose.
KARODDAM (A car journey)- A comedy based on the follies of a young couple who ventures into buying a car without knowing the intricasies of this deal.
ANNAIYAM (Alienation)- A play about the alienation of the younger generation from their parents in an immigrant community.
This leads to unexpected twists in their lives and bring sad endings.
KATRU (Wind)- a play with an intricate mixture of narration, music and dances based on poetry of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar.
KOODI PIRIYAMALAE (Stay Together)- A comedy based on a group which is trying to stage a playlet.
ANBALIPPU (Gift)- Another comedy based on the current trend of SriLankan Tamils visiting their relatives back home and their expectations.
THATHU PILLAI (Adopted Child) - an adaptation based on the satire "American Welcome" written by an Irish author Brian Friel. I introduced a SriLankan writer and Indian Film director in this adapted version.
Anybody wishing to perform these stage plays can contact me by E-mail. bala29@hotmail.com
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Copyright © 2004 K.S.Balachandran. All Rights Reserved