Versatile Mollywood actress and dancer Manju Warrier mesmerised the audience on Monday evening by getting into the skin of classic heroine Shakunthala on stage. The theatrical presentation of the classic Sanskrit play 'Abhijnana Shakunthalam' was the dream project of Kavalam Narayana Panicker who passed away recently.
Also read: Kavalam Narayana Panicker, doyen of indigenous theatre, is no more
A few months before the death of Panicker, Manju had approached him and requested him to cast her in the lead role, and he happily consented. Despite his ill health, he monitored the rehearsals.
Also read: Songs of soil: Evergreen lyrics of Kavalam Narayana Panicker
Just before Panicker's health failed him and he lapsed into a coma, he had enquired about the rehearsals of the play and wanted it staged, said Kavalam Sreekumar, panicker's son. But he did not wait for the play to be enacted on stage. The play was brought on stage on Monday as a tribute to Panicker, who was one of the pioneers of modern theatre in Kerala.
Every drop of sweat on this stage was the dream of a great man, and this performance a tribute to that great soul, said Manju after the performance.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the first performance of the play.
Watch the full play: Abhijnana Shakunthalam performance
