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Something really special
THEY PERFORMED an `Oppana' to near perfection. Later, when six of them danced to the tune of `Chingamasam vannu chernnaal... ,' a peppy film song, they had everyone gathered in the hall gazing in virtual disbelief. A fancy dress show was to follow. There was Lord Krishna, who looked a bit irked with all those attention he was receiving, a Punjabi couple, not dancing `balle, balle,' for a change perhaps, and a tennis player, with his racquet on stage. And then, Hanuman, Ravana and Sita were the main characters of a ballet that followed.
Well, everything that is customary in a school's annual day was there on stage. But the difference was that the performers were the mentally challenged students of Shilpa Special School, Palluruthy. They were celebrating their sixth annual day. And the children, who perhaps had special minds and bodies, proved that they had the potential to entertain, presenting their talents and capabilities.
Noted drama director Dharman Master who had trained the students to perform in the ballet titled `Bhakta Hanuman' was evidently delighted to do so as his students were "almost as enthusiastic as any kid of their age." "I was not that convinced at the beginning when some of the students did not respond to my directions well," he says. "And a few of them reacted violently when they were not comfortable with the proceedings." He had rehearsed the students for almost a month. the director feels that the toughest part for the students was to recollect the lines. Most of the students could not pronounce the dialogues legibly either. His eyes tend to get moist on the mention of a girl who was aged thirty but had the mental growth of a four year old. One of the students could not sit properly. The hands of another were stiff and could not be moved well.
"But they really amazed me with their timing," smiles Dharman master.
Of all the students, he felt that the boy who enacted Hanuman's role stood apart. "Ravana was also really good," he smiles.
To make it easier for the actors, the dialogues were recorded earlier and they were only needed to concentrate on their lip movement and timing, which they did much better than everyone had expected them to. They were particularly interested to enact a mythological theme.
"I was sure that the children are going to surprise everyone with their performances. I could sense it from the interest they had shown while doing the practice sessions," he explains. And he remembers with great satisfaction that everyday the children received him happily. "I am going to miss all this for a while from now", he says.
Dance master Rasheed and music teacher Thresiamma, who were also actively involved in getting the students perform on that 'special day', feel that the children are happy to "take the efforts when they are made to feel important".
The school, started by Dr. Harimohan and his wife Dr. Premila, in memory of their daughter Shilpa, have around 120 students now. The couple is fully involved in the functioning of the school. The teachers, the well wishers who trained the students for the various activities, and the driver of the school van, who has never been on leave for a single day, were commended for their efforts in taking care of the children in the school. According to some of the parents, there was considerable improvement in the response of their wards after the training imparted to them in the school.
The packed hall assembled to witness the children exhibiting their talents could be an acknowledgment to the efforts taken there.
If the kids felt elated at the end of the day, they had every reason to be so. It was a day when they behaved just like any other child of their age and everyone who watched them perform felt touched. And one thing was for sure, anyone who watched them there, would never complain about what one does not have and instead, feel privileged just for being normal.
VIJAY GEORGE
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