Plus

Plus

Rejecting rituals

By Esther Williams
Horoscopes forecast good on certain days, bad on others. Born into a Sri Lankan Tamil family living in Malaysia, dramatist Rani Moorthy was a victim of her horoscope. Born at 6.45 a.m. on a day that fell in between the star signs, considered a cusp according to the western zodiac, was inauspicious. Hers was considered a troublesome horoscope.
Every planetary change therefore was observed with a ritual, without which it was said, Rani would fall seriously ill, fail exams or experience jealousy in the office. Finding a match was even more difficult. "They predicted that even if I married, I would be a widow within a year." To let the inevitable happen, she was woken up at 4 a.m. one morning and married to a banana tree. Soon after the priest performed the ritual he chopped down the tree. Thus, she was a bride and a widow the same day.

Rituals played a major role in the small Sri Lankan Tamil community in southern Malaysia where Rani grew up. In 1890, the British had taken her grandfather amongst many others to build the railways in Malaysia. It is ironic that the British Council has now brought her back to the country of her origin.

Rani Moorthy is in Sri Lanka on the invitation of the British Council to present her one-woman show 'Pooja' (meaning ritual in Sanskrit). Written and performed by Rani, it is her own story, full of the rituals she went through because of her horoscope. Written about three years ago, it is a journey of discovery, showing a period in her life between 10 and 26 years of age. It shows her portraying too the different characters who entered her life, -the Malay grocer, the Catholic school teacher and the uncle from Jaffna.

'Pooja' received good reviews back in England as it exposed the tragedy of archaic rituals and ancient fears. Since everything in a Hindu woman's life depends on the stars, there is drama, hysteria and absurd comedy.

But she also explores serious, maybe bigger issues such as the dilemma of an emigrant culture. "It is not just my autobiography that I want the audience to see. I hope the experience of the play will lead them to understand the choices that I and others like me have had."

"Horoscopes become dangerous when used as a talisman for life. It is not a science and hence should be taken lightly. Back street palmists should not dictate your destiny. It is the individual who should be in the forefront.

"Women dwell on rituals. It is their way of avoiding pain and unhappiness in life and real emotion,” Rani says.

She herself broke away from all the customs and traditions that her family had always believed in.

Always interested in acting during her schooldays, Rani took a degree in linguistics, majoring in English literature and drama and went on to lecture in the Theatre Department of the Nanyang Technology University in Singapore, while acting in various theatrical productions.

Meeting her would-be husband she left for Manchester.

Looking back, Rani says she has come to terms with aspects of herself that were good and needed celebration and those that were painful. "My life was a struggle that I broke away from to have the freedom to love, find happiness and carve out my own destiny."

The dramatist within her always present, she spoke at length of the need to explore immigrant culture in a global context. "We need to understand how people feel away from their motherland.

“Immigrants are in constant fear of losing culture and traditions and their children to western influences.

“They cling on to the superficial aspects in rituals, which are often irrational. Faithfully following rituals is their way of keeping their roots.”

Currently she is an active member of a movement to create a South East Asian Theatre in England. She has also presented a religious programme on the BBC entitled 'Pause for Thought.'

Visiting Sri Lanka has been emotional for Rani and her parents. Her parents are here after more than five decades while Rani, is setting foot in her motherland for the first time.

In addition to performances in Matara, Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna, Rani is also conducting workshops here.

Brutal times portrayed with brutal honesty

How would you define a patriot? 'Thicker than Blood', Delon Weerasinghe's orginal play which goes on the boards at the Lionel Wendt on March 28, 29 and 30 deals with the burning issues of our time with brutal honesty.

Set to the backdrop of the separatist war in Sri Lanka, ‘Thicker than Blood’ follows the fortunes of Suresh, a young captain in the Sri Lanka army. Wounded in battle and now retired, Suresh is invited to join politics.

Although initially reluctant, Suresh agrees. But then comes the conflict.

Does serving one's country mean doing what you're told or what you think is right? Can a patriot never see another point of view?

He has spent his whole life fighting the enemy. But who does he fight when he's no longer sure who the enemy is?

‘Thicker than Blood’ was developed in conjunction with the Royal Court theatre in England when Delon attended the Royal Court international residency in 2001. He subsequently became the first South Asian playwright to have a play commissioned by this famous London theatre.

"The month-long residency was an incredible experience. I was paired off with Roy Williams, the winner of several awards including the prestigious 'Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright 2001'. Roy was to be my script advisor.

“We were then joined by David Farr, himself an award-winning writer and director whose comedy 'Elton John's Glasses' is currently doing very well on the West-End. David was to be my director. This team was responsible for shaping 'Thicker than Blood' from an idea into a play.

“At the end of the residency, a limited performance of 'Thicker than Blood' directed by David Farr was presented at the Royal Court to a very appreciative audience of eminent playwrights, directors, actors and journalists," says Delon.

Delon's involvement with the Royal Court continues as he was subsequently commissioned to write a play for an international human rights festival.

Delon has just completed his second commissioned project with the Royal Court and the BBC World Service radio titled `Webs We Weave'. This is a collaborative writing venture with 10 young writers from around the globe.

The project was run on the Internet, led by the theatre director and radio producer Dawn Walton and Marion Nancarrow.

The subsequent radio play titled "We are water" will be broadcast on BBC World Service on March 30.

'Thicker than Blood' had its international premiere at "Stagerite" a festival of new South Asian playwrighting held in Bangalore, India from October 5 to 12 last year.

The cast comprises Mohammed Adamaly, Romany Parakrama, Shanaka Amarasinghe, Arun Perera, Suranjith Tillakewardene, Arjuna Koralagama, Arrvinda Salwatura and Delon Weerasinghe himself.

Back to Plus