DRAMAS

DRAMAS

As mentioned in my previous articles, I used to arrange for Dramas to be held for the Association.  Accordingly we had organized Dramas of SV Sekhar, Crazy Mohan and RS Manohar.  Usually the dramas are planned for three to five days.  Dramas of SV Sekhar and Crazy Mohan were held in an Auditorium which had all facilities in-built like Light and Sound Arrangement. 

In this article, I am going to mention about the Dramas of Shri RS Manohar which was really very very hard task.  During one of my visits to Chennai , I met Shri Manohar to ask for details of his staging his Dramas.  Initially he gave me the following amazing information, before venturing for his dramas to be held in Delhi.

1.       We have to provide Air fare for both Shri Manohar and his wife and provide a decent accommodation and he suggested that as a member of the YWCA he can be accommodated there.

2.       His troup will consist of around 60 artists.  Of them two will come one week before the Dramas. Another 6 people will come 3 days before the Drama and the remaining artists would come one day before the drama.  All of them excepting six persons will stay two days after the drama to pack off the stage materials.  Dormitary accommodation could be provided and given a daily bata for them.  To and train fare has also to be paid and the bulk of them would get concessional fare.

3.       All the stage materials would be transported by train in a double wagon and expenses of loading at Chennai and unloading at New Delhi and also for the return of the materials.

4.       For the stage lighting they needed a 10 KVA connection to provided at the stage and had to be arranged one day before the start of the drama.

5.       In view of the huge stage settings the dramas cannot be held in an Auditorium and has to be in a Open ground.   Accordingly we chose a open ground in Mandir Marg and made arrangements for 2500 audience.

Finally he informed me that in all his dramas the villain of the epics will be heroes i.e. Ravanan will be the hero in his Lankeswaran and Kamsan will be the hero in Maa Veeran Kamsan etc, etc, 

Being a very expensive programme to be undertaken by the JTA, we discussed threadbare and decided to have five Dramas of Shri RS Manohar.  It was felt that unless we have a massive programme we cannot collect sufficient funds for the upcoming school. 

Our entire planning went off very well and we could have nearly 2.5 lacs of rupees for our School Fund (nearly 25 years ago).   The Managing Committee of JTA had full confidence in my organizational capacity and have given me full cooperation.