Soorya Krishnamoorthy, an art enthusiast and cultural activist, experimented with a new type of theatre in 2016 with a project dubbed Chayakkadakathakal (Tea shop stories), a "realistic drama series". The same cast of actors and storyline were used in all six of the plays, which were all set in the ubiquitous chayakkada (tea shop).
He first performed the plays all around India, and now he is adapting them into six short films. The project has already begun production and is being produced by Doordarshan. "The success of the plays exceeded our expectations, and the national broadcaster made us an offer to produce short films. As the director of all the films, Krishnamoorthy says, "I consider it a big recognition.
The tea shop's name is Chamundivilasam Chayakkada, and the stories are set in a hypothetical village called Chamundipuram on the banks of a fictitious river named Chamundi. "Bheeman Ravunni Nair," "Theetta Rappayi," "Amma Thankamma," "Kalathil Padmini Makal Ammu," "Thorappan Gonsalvaz," and "Anamika" are the six stories.
Based on a character from MT Vasudevan Nair's writings, Bheeman Ravunni Nair tells the story of Ravunni, a Kathakali actor who gets one leg amputated and works as Nanu Nair's helper at the tea store. Theetta Rappayi is based on the true account of a Thrissur native with an insatiable appetite. An elderly mother and her son who visit the tea store are the subjects of the story "Amma Thankamma," which describes their tense relationship.
'Thorappan Gonsalvaz' is a lighthearted yarn about the arrival of two food inspectors at the tea store and the comedy of mishaps that follows, whilst 'Kalathil Padmini Makal Ammu' is the tragic tale of a teacher abandoned by her husband and her stoic daughter. The tailor, oracle, postman, and other individuals who are regulars at the tea shop appear in "Anamika" and are referred to by their jobs rather than their first names.
"I made sure that these plays don't have any villainous characters. Everybody has an inherent goodness and innocence, he says.
The actors who performed in the plays will also appear in the short films, says Krishnamoorthy. Neyyattinkara Krishnan Nair, Arun Nath, Sreekumar Mullassery, Devan Nellimoodu, Noble Norbert, and Rachana Narayankutty are just a few of the people who fall under this category.
The films are now being shot, and 13 episodes should air on television next month.
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