Recreating something that audiences have already read about time and again might be difficult for theatre artistes. For, even the slightest lack of conviction in the flow of the story or the portrayal of the characters could spoil the whole show. However, when due justice is done to the script, one feels like watching the story unfold all over again. Something similar happened when the play, Flame of The Forest, was presented recently to an elite audience at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Hall. Directed by Gowri Ramanarayanan, the play, which was inspired by Kalki Krishnamurthi's epic novel, Sivagamiyin Sabatham, took the audience back to the seventh century. The play showcased the fear that prevailed in Kanchi, the Capital of the Pallava kingdom, in the wake of news that Chalukyas from the north were all set to wage a war against them. It also recounted king Mahendra Pallava's tactics to delay the Chalukyas' army and at the same time, his love for art and artists. The play also focussed on the love life of Sivagami, the celestial dancer of the kingdom, and Mamallan, the prince of Pallavas. Chalukya king Pulikesi's admiration of Kanchi and his back-stabbing the Pallavas on his way back, the war waged by Pallavas to destroy Vathapi, the Capital of the kingdom of the Chalukyas, to bring Sivagami back were all showcased in the play. The actors must be congratulated for a fine effort as they got into the skins of the characters. While their expressions helped convey the moods at different stages of the play, their dialogues were strong enough to give one a feel of the different situations such as a war on stage. The play was staged to help The Banyan, an organisation that works for the welfare of abandoned women.
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