KUDANDHAI MALI

PLAYWRIGHT KSN SUNDAR & DIRECTOR KUDANDHAI MALI’s HIT STAGE PLAYS IN A ROW

PLAYWRIGHT KSN SUNDAR & DIRECTOR KUDANDHAI MALI’s HIT STAGE PLAYS IN A ROW

Under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts at Mylapore Fine Arts Club Auditorium Kudandhai Mali directed Tamil stage play “NAAM ENDRUM ORUVAR” was Inaugurated. The play is written by Veteran dramatist, director & story writer K.S.N. Sundar.  Yesterday this play was staged at Chrompet cultural academy and on this evening it is being staged by Naradha Gana Sabha. The Play revolves on present day hot, current scenario as to how ‘Divorces’ are mechanically sought and granted with mutual consent on an uniformly cited trivial reason of “Non Compatibility” grounds within a short span of their marriage by a lady advocate who takes immense pride in this mission that she is popularly referred to as ‘Divorce Advocate’ emotionally playing on ‘one upwomanship, childish ego, false prestige, acts done on spur of the emotional moment’ in sharp contrast to her beloved husband’s open broadmindedness  of free & frank counseling & resolving family ego issues even amongst divorced couples & reuniting them. How this lady advocate emotionally and selfishly handles her own son’s problematic marriage as a caring, loving mother by moving Heaven & Earth & finally joins her beloved lawyer husband’s wave length, ‘better late than never’ is the crux of the story. KSNS’s “Nitharsanam” is based upon the feasibility of inter caste marriage has been hailed as the best drama of the year 2015 & His just previously staged drama “Sammatham” both directed by KM is based on belief and biases & emphasizes on how religious differences cannot come in the way of relationship. It is apt at this stage to write about the Director of these plays in depth by going down his memory lane.




Mylapore Mail
PLAYWRIGHT KSN SUNDAR & DIRECTOR KUDANDHAI MALI’s HIT STAGE PLAYS IN A ROW

BA Economics Graduate  N. Mahalingam was Christened as ‘Kudandhai Mali’ KM by Ma.Po.Si. His first play “Thanthai Yen Deivam” was inaugurated in 1959.  He has so far authored more than 20 plays,  dramatized about 14 novels, 6 short stories of other popular writers and staged more than 4000 times, like Na.Parthasarathi’s novel ‘Kurinji Malar’, R. Sudamani’s ‘Azhkadal’ & Thirupur Krishnan’s ‘Poi Sollum Devathai’.  All his plays are theme based, highlighting the social problems and finding solutions for them, like “Kadavual Yengey” written in 1958 & staged more than 200 times based on a short story written by AK Pattuswami in Anandavikatan, “Kadalaicherum Nadhigal” based on religious harmony and communal unity, “Nammavargal” stressed on the importance of Hindu-Muslim unity, thwarting the attempts of the militants to create havoc in India,  “Gnanapeetam” brings out how a religion attains supremacy in society “Poi SollumDevathai” based on Gandhian principle of forgiveness, a short story written by famous writer (Present Amudha Surabhi Editor) Thiruppur Krishnan. KM had dramatized the life History of Mother Sarada Devi in commemoration of her 150th Birth Anniversary which was staged at Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Perambur in 2003 which was directed by “Nataka Kavalar” R.S. Manohar &  considered staging of this play as a great Honour in his life time. In his Drama Troupe Major Sundararajan, N.K.T. Muthu, Prof.  Ganesan of Vivekananda College and yester Year Popular actress SundariBai have acted. He had the unique opportunity of meeting Dr.  A.P.J.  Abdul Kalam, the then Hon’ble President of India at Rashtrapathi Bhavan along with his troupe members on 09.04.2007 and had his blessings and appreciation. It was Mali, who introduced “100 years Living Legend Kalaimamani K.S. Nagarajan”, Founder President of Kalanilayam as a stage play Director. KM’s books “Nammavargal”, “Gnanapeetam”, “Aathmavisaranai” and “Sattam Yaar Pakkam” were released during the year 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2010 respectively.





KUDANDHAI MALI Latest Photo
KUDANDHAI MALI Latest Photo

Several Titles were conferred upon KM that include NATAKA SEVA RATNA by Nataka Academy, WISDOM AWARD  by Wisdom Edition and publications, NATAKA KALA BHARATI by Bharat Kalachar, NATAKA KALA SIRONMONI by Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, VANI KALA SUDHAKARA by Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, NATAKA KALA NIPUNA by Mylapore Fine Arts Club, NATAKA KALA SAGARA by  Kalasagaram Hyd., NATAKA NUR KALAIGNAR Award in the name of T.K.Shanmugam by Sankaradas Swamigal Arakkattalai, NATAKA NAN MANI by Vasal Kavidhai Arangam, NATAKA SEMMAL by Jayasree Pictures S.V.Ramanan, NATAKA VIPANCHEE by Vipanchee cultural organization, SERVICE AWARD by Mylapore  Academy, SERVICE AWARDS by Chromepet Cultural Academy, LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT by IOBIANS 60-70, LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS by Rotary Club of Madras Nungambakkam, Nanganallur, Karthik Fine Arts, Mylapore Academy, POTRAMARAI – NAR KALINGAR VIRUDHU by  Potramarai literary circle headed by Mr. L Ganesan, NATAKA PADMAM by Brahma Gana Sabha to name a few in recognition of his services and achievements




Other notable dramas written by Mali are “Kaadhal Yendraal” on true love, “Gumastha Kuppusamy” on Class Conflict between Rich & Poor, “Ellaikodu” emphasising the importance of Chastity, “Andru Ezhundha Thee” on Patriotism, “Sangalpam” on Belief, “Thideer Vinayagar” on a True story that took place in T. Nagar in 1969. “Nammavargal” emphasizing on Indo-Pakistan Relationship, “Nambikai” on Purity in Politics, “Athma Visaaranai” on what is true dharma, “Sattam Yaar Pakkam” on Rule of Law, “Nizhal Theydum Marangal” on Senior Citizens’ day to day problems, etc Other Author’s play staged by Mali are Marina’s  MAPPILLAI MURUKKU, Somu’s  ORU MANAIVI ORUVARGIRAL, Pattana’s OH MY BABY, Soundaryan’s GOPURAM THANGUM BOMMAIGAL, KUDATHIL VAITHA DHEEPANGAL, NEENTHAVUMTHERIYATHA MEENGAL, PERIYAVANGA PERIYAVANGATHAN, PIRANTHA KADHAI SOLLAVA, AMMA VANDHACHU, KovaiAnuradha’s VESHANGAL, Mani Mohan’s MAN SIVAKATTUM, PuduvaiMugundan’s NIZHAL THEDUM NENJANGAL, S.L .Naanu’s ELAKKANAM MARUMO.  Kudandhai Mali’s unstinted and dedicated Yeoman Service to the Tamil stage strongly continues even after 58 years since 1959.

By s.shivpprasadh