Malayalam drama group suspends play on Christian nuns
Churches in the state, particularly those belonging to the Catholics, have come out in protest against the drama, which hit the stage a year back, alleging that it insults the self-respect of nuns.
3 min read
Alappuzha-based Paravur Public Library, which has floated Neythal Nataka Sangham, president Dr S Ajayakumar, and secretary K V Ragesh on Monday announced the decision to temporarily halt staging of Kakkukali. (Source: Facebook) Alappuzha-based Neythal Nataka Sangham has decided to suspend staging of the Malayalam drama on Christian nuns, Kakkukali, bowing to pressure from Church groups in Kerala.
Churches in the state, particularly those belonging to the Catholics, have come out in protest against the drama, which hit the stage a year back, alleging that it insults the self-respect of nuns. However, the Churches stepped up their demand to ban the drama recently in the wake of the row over the film, The Kerala Story.
Last week, acting upon a complaint from the Catholic Church, State Cultural Affairs Minister and CPI(M) leader Saji Cheriyan stated that direction would be given to the performing group to make necessary changes in the drama as the government did not want to insult any religious sentiments.
Alappuzha-based Paravur Public Library, which has floated Neythal Nataka Sangham, president Dr S Ajayakumar, and secretary K V Ragesh on Monday announced the decision to temporarily halt staging of Kakkukali.
“Unfortunately, the drama, which has been staged in various places for the last year, has landed in controversy. The library has not made any deliberate attempt to insult or hurt any community. We have noticed that certain vested groups have taken up the issue for furthering their political interest. Facing court cases and allegations does not augur well for the library. The court as well as society at large form an opinion about the drama. Hence, we have decided to suspend staging of Kakkukali for the time being,’’ they said.
Play vs film politics
When the influential Kerala Catholic Bishops Council first raised the demand for a ban on Kakkukali for its purported “anti-Christian content” in early March, it did not have any political resonance. But the recent release of The Kerala Story's trailer — the film has since been released, and banned in some Opposition-governed states, while it got tax-free status in a few BJP states — gave BJP a fresh opportunity to find a common cause with the Church and reach out to the minority community. While not demanding a ban on the play, BJP backed the Church’s stance that it has “insulted” the Christian clergy and seized on the issue to go after the LDF government over its alleged Muslim appeasement.
Kakkukali revolves around a young nun and the struggles and challenges that she comes across in a convent. It is a theatre adaptation of a Malayalam short story with the same title, written by Francis Norona. Months back, the Catholic Church had demanded a ban on the drama. But, the Church recently stepped up the campaign against the drama after CPI(M) and Congress came out against The Kerala Story saying the silence of these parties on Kakkukali exposed their double standards. The BJP had also joined the issue saying that the silence of CPI(M) and Congress showed their selective secularism and selective freedom of expression. The party, however, did not demand a ban on the drama but said it insulted Christian sentiments.
You May Like
