Date:25/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/25/stories/2006052505520200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Y.G. Mahendra's drama festival

S.R. Ashok Kumar

Y.G. Mahendra

Chennai: If you seriously think that laughter is the best medicine, then head straight to Rani Seethai Hall, where actor Y.G. Mahendra and his United Amateur Artists (UAA) are staging eight of their plays from May 27 to June 4.

Alandur fine Arts and Prabhat, in association with Indian Overseas Bank and Sify.com, are organising the festival.

The plays are `Ragasiyam Parama Ragasiyam', `Thanthra Mukhi', `Lights On', `Ithu Nyayama Sir', `Mounam Sangadam' `Judgement Day', `Antha 7 Aatkal', and `Kathalika Neramundu'.

In this nataka vizha, his latest play `Thanthra Mukhi' is being staged twice because of its popularity. UAA is the only theatre group, which continues to stage dramas without any break for the past 54 years in Tamil Nadu. The late YGP and Pattu started the troupe in 1952. The nataka vizha is to be inaugurated with a dance performance by sisters A.N. Rukmini and A. Meenakshi Sai.

The artists who are to be involved in the play are ARS, Typist Gopu, Suppini, Sureshwar, Nagalakshmi, Brinda and Anandhi. Y.G. Mahendra, who is in his 45th year in the stage, has acted in films and in television serials. On the concluding day, prominent film and drama personalities would honour Mahendra.

For further details, contact 98400 77987.