Malayalam drama
Drama, as is understood now, is a borrowed art form in Kerala and started with the publication of the Malayalam translation of Abhijnana Shakuntalam in 1882.
In 1882, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran translated the Sanskrit drama Abhijnana Shakuntalam into Malayalam.
Although it was written in a highly Sanskritised Manipravalam style, it is regarded as the first literary work in Malayalam that fits into the modern definition of drama.
Many Sanskrit dramas like Janaki Parinayam (1889) Mālavikāgnimitram (1890), Vikramōrvaśīyam, Uttararamacarita (1892), Ascharya Choodamani (1893), Svapnavasavadattam and Madhyamavyayoga had translations in Malayalam.
[8] Manomohanam Company (Thiruvattar Narayana Pillai) and Rasikaranjini (Chambathil Chathukutty Mannadiyar) were famous theatre groups in Kerala.
Examples are Almarattam, Portsiaswayamvaram (Chembakaraman Velayudhan – The Merchant of Venice), Kalahinidamanakam (Kandathil Varghese Mappillai – The Taming of the Shrew), Hamlet (Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran) and Othello (Sanjayan).
[12] The other works that were translated during the 19th century include Ghosts, Rosmersholm, (Henrik Ibsen), A Marriage Proposal (Anton Chekhov), The Power of Darkness (Leo Tolstoy), The Rivals (Richard Brinsley Sheridan) and Oedipus Rex (Sophocles).
Examples include Pandathe Pachan, Butler Pappan, Doctorkk Kittiya Mitcham, Kuripinte Thiripppu, Kurupillakalari and Kaimalassante Kadassikai.
[13] Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai gave a new light to the world of theatre with his works like Kalvariyile Kalpa Padapam, Velu Thampy Dalava and Agnipanjaram etc., [1], Edasseri Govindan Nair's socio-political play "Kootu Krishi" (1940), "Thirichhethhal", "Njetiyil Patarathha Mulla", "Njangal Dayaye Thookkikkonnu", Kainikkara Kumara Pillai's Harishchandran, Mohavum Muktiyum, Veshangal etc.
[13] V. T. Bhattathiripad wrote Adukkalayail Ninnu Arangathekku which strongly reacted against the decadence of the Nambudiri community and was an important event in the social reform calendar of Kerala.
[13] K. Damodaran's Pattabaki which tells the story of a poor tenant in Malabar evicted by a cruel landlord, is the first political play in Malayalam.
Important political dramas of the period include P. Kesavadev's Munnottu, Madyapani, Pradhana Mantri, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's Thotilla, Ponkunnam Varkey's Jethakkal and Visarikku Katu Venda, Thoppil Bhasi's Ningalenne Communistaaki and Mudiyanaya Puthran.
[13] Pulimana Parameswaran Pillai's Samatvavadi written in an expressionist style can be said to be the harbinger of a change in Malayalam drama.
Thomas's Avan Veendum Varunnu, 1128-il Crime 27 and Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne, and Nair's Ramayana trilogy—Kanchana Sita, Saketham and Lankalakshmi—clearly reoriented the Malayalam theatre world.
Renowned as a playwright, dramatist and critic, he translated Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Antigone, and Aristophanes' Lysistrata into Malayalam.
[17] Although indigenous drama (Thanathu Nataka Vedi) was formed during the days of C. N. Sreekantan Nair, Kavalam Narayana Panicker's works widened its scope.
[13] Vayala Vasudevan Pillai (Kuchelagatha, Varavelppu, Kalapporu, Yatra), P. M. Taj (Ravunni, Kudukka, Mary Lawrence, Rajavinte Chenda), P. J. Antony (Inquilabinte Makkal, Nilaykatha Ganam), Thikkodiyan (Jivitam, Punyatheertham, Pushpavrishti, Theepori), P. Balachandran (Pavam Usman, Samarayilekk), Narendra Prasad (Ira, Souparnika, Marthandavarma Engane Rakshapettu), Vasu Pradeep(Smarakam, Kannadi Kashanangal, Thazhum Thakkolum), Civic Chandran (Kurisu Yuddham Thudangunnavar, Ningal Aare Communist Akki), Jayaprakash Kuloor (Appunnikalude Radio, Nayattu, Velichenna), K. V. Sreeja (Ororo Kalathilum, Kalyana Saree), M .
[13] Manomohanam Company (Thiruvattar Narayana Pillai) and Rasikaranjini (Chambathil Chathukutty Mannadiyar) were famous theatre groups in Kerala during the early period of Malayalam drama.
The Samithi presented Krishna Pillai's Anuranjanam and Bhagnabhavanam, and C. J. Thomas's Avan Veendum Varunnu but closed down soon afterward.
[21] Nataka Kalari was established by K. Ayyappa Panicker, G. Sankara Pillai and C. N. Sreekantan Nair and was instrumental in the growth of indigenous theatre in Kerala.
