Under the leadership of Shabu Kilithattil, in UAE's Ajman was recenty held 'Vellinakshathrame Ninne Nokki', unfolding Kerala’s theatrical history, the sweetness of Malayalam and its poetic grace; speaking to the youngest even and guiding elders homewards back to their roots. Joined by voices such as Kallara Gopan and G Sriram, hundreds of expatriate Malayali artistes filled the stage.

മലയാളത്തിൽ വായിക്കാൻ ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക

VK Sanju

A cold wind swept the sand dunes. The night still held its Christmas colours, not yet faded. Stars did shine unusually brighter. Inside the now-bustling Ajman Cultural Theatre, legendary KP Udayabhanu’s old song Vellinakshathrame ninne nokki rose silently, echoing from many lips in unison all at once.

The song was never played aloud anywhere around. Still its lyrics found their way into many hearts, hovering in the air like a lingering hum. On stage, stars appeared to rain down, opening the night’s first chapter, as the origin and evolution of Kerala’s popular theatre emerged and revealed the depth of its cultural lineage.

It began with Kannaki setting fire to Madhura, carrying the earliest Tamil plays to Kerala's shores. What followed were the glimpses of KPAC's political dramas, which shaped the conscience of a generation, and KT Muhammad's social plays, all gleaming on stage. Among these were a tapestry of timeless drama songs, sung across generations.

Kallara Gopan, G Sriram and Narayani Gopan breathed life into melodies Balikudeerangalae, Maarivillin Thenmalarae, Ponnarivalambiliyil, Vellarankunnilae, Madhurikum Ormakalae, Parannu Parannu Parannu Chellan... turned the air into a passage through time.

Raktharashas and Theyyam transformed the gathering into the stage, blazing in memory as fiery stars. The Kalanilayam's drama-scope concept, blurring the borders of theatre and cinema, came alive once more. Over a hundred dancers and actors performed as one symphony, shaped across varied forms and stages, etching their presence deep into the hearts of the audience.

The selection of the title Vellinakshathrame Ninne Nokki, based on a very popular film song, was a carefully considered vision even though the programme was one tracing the lineage of drama, says show director Shabu Kilithattil. It is not a drama song, nor does it belong to the programme's repertoire. Rather, the title was chosen for the quiet sense of domestic warmth and gentle curiosity those lines evoke; a mood that subtly guided the spirit of the evening.

Ningal Enne Communist Aakki by KPAC

This marks the second such endeavour in the UAE within two months under Shabu's stewardship. Apart from a few singers from home, the stage belonged to expatriate Malayalees drawn from across the Emirates. Uniting these scattered talents into a single, harmonious whole was the backstage team's greatest challenge. Three months of tireless effort and relentless rehearsals finally bloomed into a resounding success.

Normally such events are staged abroad only in modest measure, as part of celebrations hosted by Malayali associations. But while shaping the second edition of Vellinakshathrame Ninne Nokki, Shabu and his friends set out to create something more immersive. On the Ajman stage, those 'silver stars' truly rose and did shine with quiet brilliance.

Ithu Bhoomiyaanu by KT Mohammed

The magical presence of the brilliant scenographer Nizar Ibrahim, who seamlessly transported the stage from one drama to another in the blink of an eye, added to the radiant glow of the silver star.

In the meantime, Ramanan, Sakunthala and Vasavadatta returned to the stage, not merely as echoes of dramatic history, but carriers of the grace of Malayalam poetry, sharing its sweetness with even the youngest among the expatriate audience. What lingered were soft smiles of fulfilment and applause that refused to fade after the symphony's final note. Beyond the chill of the night outside and the dimmed stage within, the bliss endured.

Theyyam as part of Kalanilayam's Raktharakshas

''Seek the shores where roots draw water;

try to linger there, and just be....''

(വേരുകൾ വെള്ളമൂറ്റിക്കുടിക്കുന്ന തീരങ്ങളിൽച്ചെന്ന്

അൽപ്പനേരം മെനക്കെട്ടിരിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കണം)

As poet V Madhusoodanan Nair once etched these lines into eternity, so too, beyond the concrete confines of everyday life, a gentle radiance unfolded. For three and a half hours, light traced pathways back to the roots of heritage - this symphony of Malayalam blooming in the desert. And up above, Vellinakshathram, the silver star, watched and shone in full bloom.

Show Director Shabu Kilithattil along with singers Kallara Gopan, Narayani Gopan and G Sriram.
It was a shared mission that gathered around one hundred artistic talents, working in many capacities across the emirates of the UAE.