Despite completely shifting to films, the legendary actor proudly initials
Despite completely shifting to films, the legendary actor proudly initials
KPAC, the familiar initials adorning KPAC Lalitha’s name, signifies the more than eight years spent at the Kerala People’s Arts Club. It stands for something that had a lasting impact on him till the end of his life, whether it was his easygoing, natural style of acting or his politics. The young Maheshwari Amma, as she was formerly known, took to the stage at a time of transformation in the theatre.
Plays based on the lives of kings and queens or written on religious themes, which were once the norm, were gradually making way for more realistic, everyday stories on the struggles of common people.
plays like kpac ninglene communistakiWritten by Thoppil Bhasi, its staging was creating waves everywhere. At the same time, women began to play female roles instead of men dressed as women, as did actors such as Adoor Bhasi.
the beginning of the theater
Joining the Geeta Arts Club in Changanassery in the 1950s, Maheshwari Amma acted in popular plays such as Bali And galileo, Soon, she also starred kakkapponnu Talent for Arts Club, but during this time he had a strong desire to act in KPAC’s plays.
KPAC was currently looking for a female actor for Sulochana, who was getting busy with their Ganmela troupe. “The club and Thopil Bhasi wanted someone who could re-sing, dance and act again the famous plays of the troupe. The hunt for such a face ended in Maheshwari Amma. KPAC Johnson went to Thopil Bhasi’s instructions. Met him. She had come for interviews and auditions. All of KPAC’s plays featured characters that are familiar to us, especially women from rural neighbourhoods. As soon as she came in, the club realized it was someone who suited her style. A. Shajahan, current secretary of KPAC, says in his autobiography tight throatShe writes of the prime days, most of which were spent in the vans of the congregation, moving from stage to stage.
yudhakandamHis first play was at KPAC in 1965, written by Thopil Bhasi. Bhasi, who named her KPAC Lalita, soon became her mentor and a guide to her till the end of her life.
In those early days, he famously remarked that he was someone who would be successful just with his voice. “Before I did my makeup for every film, I remember Bhasichetan. It seemed that the characters in his pen were made just for me,” she wrote.
grassroots politics
During her stint at KPAC, she was also an active participant in grassroots politics, sang in the Communist Party’s fund connection drive and became the leader of the Kerala Mahila Sangham.
Saraswati character on stage kuttukudumbam, a critique against the joint family system, became one of the high points of his life at KPAC. She was also asked to star in the film version directed by KS Sethumadhavan.
She writes that there was a level of displeasure among some fellow members when she was given an exception to acting in films, as she was also acting in plays at the time. manasputri Written by Kaniyapuram Ramachandran. But, by 1972, she had completely shifted to films. But, she stayed true to her roots, taking out time to attend KPAC related events even when she was busy with film assignments. “She was known through KPAC, but even when she made a name for herself in cinema, she always carried those initials with pride. She grew so much that the generations to come through her got to know about the club. When I last met him, he once again expressed his desire to act in a KPAC play. We were thinking of going ahead with this plan when the COVID-19 outbreak happened. Now she has left us without fulfilling that wish,” says Mr. Shah Jahan.