Mohanlal all set to play Karna

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 19. At the end of the dress rehearsal, Mohanlal's face beamed with pride and satisfaction.

Hard work for the past one week, rehearsing line after line of Bhasa's Sanskrit play, `Karnabharam', under the direction of Kavalam Narayana Panicker, has yielded good results.

Malayalam cinema's superstar slips into the role of Karna in the production, to be staged in New Delhi on March 27.

He seems to have quickly adapted himself to Panicker's style of theatre, demanding terpsichorean skills and athletic grace from the actor. In costumes designed by G. Aravindan, who had directed him in `Vasthuhara', the actor looks much like a Yakshagana character.

"Like a duck takes to water, he has imbibed the complex movements that characterise my theatre," Panicker says.

Mohanlal's flexibility on screen has made him the darling of directors. It has won him plaudits not only at home, but also from outside, the latest instance of which being an invitation from director Ramgopal Varma to act in a Hindi movie.

The actor weaves his way through the chorus. The lines from the play are recited, "Atyugra Deepthi Visada Samare Agraganya".

During the break, he walks up to film director C. P. Padmakumar, who had dropped by, and asks, "Am I okay?"

Padmakumar smiles in approval, caressing his flowing beard.

"His dedication is patent," he pipes up, as Mohanlal walks away. "Few film actors would put themselves through such rigours. His body must be aching."

Mohanlal says he plans to capture the play on video, and this would later be subtitled and telecast. The proceeds from this film would be used to set up an academy for performing arts in the State.

Film actor Mohanlal who plays the role of Karna in Sopanam's `Karnabharam' with veteran actor, Bharath Gopi, during a dress reherasal of the play in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Looking on is Kavalam Narayana Panicker.

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