Veerappan 'lords' them all

IT WAS not actually the thick forests of Satyamangalam where the handlebar mustachioed brigand, Veerappan, has made his abode. But, more mundane with sparse greenery.

The `wild' beasts were a pint-sized tiger, a skinny Mowgli, a slim elephant and a bear fast turning bald. As a consolation to the kids, there was a Donald Duck too.

Yet, this is one forest where the poacher-smuggler-killer was not the undisputed king of the jungle because he had company. None other than the man who gave a stiff fight to three silver screen icons in `Sholay' - Gabbar Singh.

If this was not enough, there was the mafia don, Bhiku Mhatre, and his cronies. Quite a crowd. No, wonder, people were being warned: "Everyone's in danger now... nobody is safe". The question uppermost was who is going to kidnap first and whom?

For the regular Sunday crowd at the `Alleygator', the day was an eventful one as a special supper theatre play, `Jungle', was enacted with all the animals and the men of the forest along with the `neta'.

He's always ready with a statement or two and mouthing platitudes of what needs to be done to `finis' the outlaws. As the curio lot were settling down to play the ball on the alley or polishing their cue while some were nibbling the sandwich and sipping colas served in coconut shells by `tribals', the lights dimmed and music changed for the junglee folks to take over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Bhiku Mhatre has taken over this alley. Only God can save you. Policemen are of no help and no point in bribing them!," shouted the narrator. Even as shivers were sought to be sent and before the excitement of the mafia don subsided, Gabbar barged in unleashing his leather belt and guns. Obviously, he was also obsessed with the two Ks - kidnappings, killings.

Amid all this, there was this `neta' in his inimitable style a la Laloo condemning everything and anything. "The Government has to be brought down. What is it doing when brigands are holding people to ransom? They should send commandoes to capture Gabbar dead or alive," he says as his lackeys raise slogans.

Chance was given for the cops and commandoes to fight `pitched battles' with the outlaws much to the amusement of the gathering and some kids appeared scared. Imagine?!

Without doubt, the star of `Jungle' was Veerappan and his cohorts. They did create a commotion with their antics and the strange lingo they spoke. Before, anyone realised they were soon into the two Ks. A person, presumably a hack and a kid, supposedly the son of a forest officer were abducted.

Their demands included making Veerappan the Chief Minister! Meanwhile, the `neta' mouths: "This Government has failed....how can they let the brigand get away...what about people..."

Much effort had gone into `Jungle' like the outfits sourced from Mumbai, imaginative make-up et al. Plus, Satish (Veerappan), Piyush (Gabbar), Mahesh (neta) and the outlaw's cronies like Shafiq, Kartikeya and also Sriram as the narrator were quite spirited.

Perhaps, it looked amateurish and did not have the participation expected from the audience but it was performed with gusto. Considering it was first such play tried out in the twin cities, the gang behind the show (same ones who did `Orathon') deserve three big pats, just for the effort.

By V. Geetanath

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Section  : Southern States
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