Tamil culture goes to Japan

`Thilana', a brand new Tamil production, is to be performed in Japan for a period of one month. The tour started on September 11, and comprises 21 performances in 19 cities across Japan. More than 35,000 Japanese are expected to see the show live on stage. `Thilana' is not a typical drama. Neither is it a classical dance or a mere variety entertainment by film dancers. Instead, it is a musical, a unique form of performing arts, quite rare in Tamil.

What is interesting about the production is that it has been created exclusively for a Japanese audience. `Thilana' has been produced by Anita Raj, director of Sign Talents Inc., a Chennai- based publicity and event management company. The production and the tour are sponsored by Min-On Concert Association of Japan, the cultural division of Soka Gakkai International. The show is co-sponsored by the Indian Embassy in Japan as part of celebrating 50 years of the treaty of peace and friendship between the two countries.

Dr. Akash Ouchi, country chief Min-On, said that he was proud to sponsor a unique Tamil musical. Indian movies are regularly shown in Japan and are well received by the Japanese. Among Indian movies, Tamil movies are the most popular, he said.

When `Muthu' was screened it was a major hit. The Japanese seem to appreciate the family-oriented stories depicted in typical Tamil movies. They love the music-and-dance milieu that forms the core of Tamil movies, he added.

Dr. Ouchi said that Min-On has organised an immense publicity campaign for the show in Japan using TV and print media as well as cut-outs. There will be a scrolling display above the stage showing live translation of the dialogue and song verses in Japanese. This will help the audience to understand and enjoy the Tamil musical.

Anita Raj said that organisers from Min-Onwere scouting for a modern musical reflecting the popular culture of India. They tried a few groups in Mumbai but were not happy with the proposals. Since they were aware of the popularity of Tamil movies in Japan, they visited Chennai. They asked Anita Raj if she could produce a show for them. After developing the concept, she travelled to Tokyo and made a detailed presentation on the style, story and contents to get their final approval.

Back in Chennai, Anita signed up Kalyan, a film choreographer to direct and choreograph `Thilana'.

The story outline developed by Bharathan was expanded and scripted by Anita Raj and Kalyan.

The musical which uses hit songs from Tamil movies, unfolds a love story at a fast pace with dance numbers interspersed by dialogue.

Kalyan has choreographed all the dances afresh without a trace of the original.

The lead actors are Ramji and Sangeetha, with Kalyan playing the villain. The troupe includes 16 men and women dancers.

Anita, who has been working on this project for nearly a year, said she was proud to showcase Indian culture in Japan. Having received requests from a few other countries to organise similar cultural and entertainment shows, she is planning a world tour early next year. She promised that she would stage `Thilana' in Chennai after returning from Japan.

SAM KUMAR

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