PERCH - Performers in Chennai

"Ms.Meena" - At Rangashankara , Bangalore

2010-07-08T01:48:00.000-07:00

Perch, a Chennai based performance collective , in association with Rafiki, Bengaluru is staging a play in English (with a smattering of other languages)

'Ms. Meena' at Rangashankara, Bengaluru from July 28 to August 1, 2010.

The play will be at 7.30 pm on all days and there will be a matinee show on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30 pm as well. Tickets, priced at Rs. 100 from Wed-Fri and Rs. 150 on Saturday and Sunday will be available at K.C. Das (Church Street), Goethe-Institut/Max Muller Bhavan (Indiranagar) during office hours and at Rangashankara.

Online booking is at www.indianstage.in and www.bookmyshow.com and the ticketing helpline no. is 9886 370614.

So all good peoples, Please come! :-)

BASHEER PLAYS AT PRITHVI, MUMBAI

2009-12-04T05:47:00.000-08:00

Perch, chennai is back with Two English plays at Prithvi theatre, mumbai. Dec 15-20th 2009. Please do come! and spread the word :)

For other details check us on Facebook or our Website .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sunday 20th December at 11 am at Prithvi House, we will also be screening two films on the Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Details of the films:
1. 'My Name is Basheer'
Directed by Anushka Meenakshi
2009, 66 minutes, Malayalam and English, with English subtitles
Produced by the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
In October 2007, a group of people from PERCH, a Chennai based theatre collective, traveled to Kozhikkode, Kerala, to rediscover the world of the Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The people we met, and the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of Kozhikkode were the source of inspiration for two plays in English based on several of Basheer's stories.
Many of Basheer's stories reveal something of the writer himself - his incredible humanity, his experiences of love and poverty, his criticism of politics and war, his eclectic taste in music, his love of nature, and his radical beliefs about the society around him.

'My Name is Basheer' is a film that weaves scenes from the two plays – 'Sangathi Arinhya! (Have you Heard!)' and 'Moonshine & Skytoffee' – with interviews of his family and others who knew him closely. Sharing their memories of Basheer are, his brother Abu Backer, wife Fabi, children Anees and Shahina, M.K Sanu who was Basheer's biographer, Punalur Rajan who photographed Basheer over several years, and M.A Rahman who made the award-winning documentary 'Basheer the Man'.

2. 'Basheer Enna Manushan' ('Basheer the Man')
Directed by M.A. Rahman
1987, 28 minutes, Malayalam with English subtitiles
An affectionate and admiring tribute to Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, a doyen of Malayalam literature as well as a social reformer and freedom fighter who was imprisoned for seditious writings during the freedom struggle.
This film won the 1987 Kerala State Film Award for Best Documentary Film

PERCH IN BANGALORE!!

2009-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

PERCH presents , Two English plays, based on the stories of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, at Rangashankara - April 21st -26th '09
"Moonshine & skytoffee" and " Sangathi Arinhya? (have you heard?) "
Block your tickets at 9945108610

Press Link for Moonshine and Skytoffee:
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/09/24/stories/2004092402680400.htm

Press Link for Sangathi Arinhya! (Have you heard!):
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2008/04/24/stories/2008042450980300.htm

Vaikom Muhammmad Basheer Centenary celebrations at Ranga Shankara

2008-04-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

Review By Deepa Mohan
Bangalore Met blogs.

It’s always nice to be able to go and attend when a writer whose work you respect has his centenary celebrations. Perch, a theatre group based in Chennai, came to Ranga Shankara to celebrate a hundred years since the Malayalam writer, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, was born. Perch has members from various backgrounds, and they are doing a great job of exploring the boundaries of theatre.There were three parts to the celebrations at Ranga Shankara: the adaption of seven of Basheer’s stories into a play, “Sangathi Arinhya!” by Perch; the Moplah food festival at the Ranga Shankara cafe by Anju Sudarshan; and the collection of photographs (”Images from Kozhikode”) and sketches (by Vasudevan Namboodiri) of Basheer and his world.
The collection of photographs and sketches were very interesting; it took us back to the world Basheer inhabited and took his inspiration from.

did not, alas, get to taste the Moplah food, though….I realized it was on offer only after I had joined the queue, and didn’t want to gulp down food in a hurry. But I have always liked Anju’s food ….!
So to the play, which is a pastiche of 7 of Basheer’s stories in order of their being staged yesterday: Sthalathe Pradhana Divyan, Bhargavi Nilayam, Shabdangal, Poovan Pazham, Viswavikhyatamaya Mookku, Mathilukkal, and Oru Manushyan (which was a mainly silent tableau which took place after the break.) Some of the tableaus were revisited for a denouement after the break, too. The vignettes slipped into each other, with many of Basheer’s characters like Jameela Bibi, Abdul Khader, Otttakkan Pokker, Kandambarayan, and so on, making their appearance.
The navarasas were present in all the scenes….the love of the rowdy Khader for Jameela Bibi, the horror and disgust of the soldier who had to kill his friend who was in agony from his wounds, the eerieness of Basheer’s friendship with a dead woman,the absurdity of a nose that becomes world-famous….

All the actors are now used to doing these plays as they had been done earlier in Chennai. And the command over the plays really comes through. Though there was a fair amount of slapstick and overstated humour, it was a mix of humour and seriousness.

The cast comprised, in alphabetical order, Aparna Gopinath, Hans Kaushik, Iswar Srikumar, Jagan P, Karuna Amarnath, Kaveri Lalchand, Malavika P C , Paul Mathew (who played Basheer himself, a startling look-alike!) Prakash Dharmarajan, Rashmi Devadasan, Srikrishna Dayal, and Vikas Grover. A very talented bunch indeed.
Also remarkable were both the stage settings (Kalpana Balaji and John Mathew). Several umbrellas depcited a tree and some vessels depicted the old HMV gramophone; some dinner plates depicted Basheer’s old vinyl records! A remarkable instance of stage properties themselves taking on other roles!
The script was also extremely well-written, and the dialogue never sounded forced on the ear. The make up (Niranjani Iyer) was very well-done, too, even of the comedic characters.
The costumes, designed by Kaveri Lalchand, were also excellent, with all the usual accessories of a Moplah life….the umbrella, the mundu, the lungis, the moplah girl’s head-dress…being well brought out on stage.
Mention must also be made of the music, by Vedanth Bharadwaj and Anushka Meenakshi. The lovely old songs chosen…”Babul mora” by Sehgal, other Hindi, Tamizh and Malayalam hits, culminating with “Kaatriniley Varum Geetham” by M S Subbulakshmi…really added to the atmosphere of the evening.
There was an excellent brochure given to all viewers, and though it dated from their Chennai performance, it was still an extremely well-produced one, and gave a lot of information about both Perch and Mohammed Basheer.
The only drawback to the play was the time…it is 130 mins, and with a ten-minute interval, that makes for a very long evening. Perhaps the stories could have been made 6 instead of 7, but given the prolific amount of Basheer’s work, the choice would have been a difficult one.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI - The Cast & Crew Credits are taken from the Chennai set of shows. Hence not correct. The bangalore shows had a slightly different grp.

Thanks.

We're coming to Bangalore !!!!

2008-04-11T00:29:00.001-07:00

INDIA TODAY - SIMPLY CHENNAI :)

2008-02-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

La la La

2008-01-20T23:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Basheer's Land

2008-01-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

Basheer ente natukke swagatham

"In this all too brief existence when the life is bubbling with youth and the heart is fragrant with love," last week, we saw the love triumphs of Kesavan Nayar & Saramma, and Mandan Muthappa & Zainaba.

Welcome back to Kaduvakuzhi

Perch presents, as part of Under the Mangosteen Tree, another play - Sangathi Arinhya (Have you Heard?) This is a full length English play, which explores Basheer's life and humour through his own writings. Some of the texts used are Bhargavi Nilayam, The Man, Mathilukal, Aanavariyum Ponkurisum, Poovan Banana, etc. The play is adapted and scripted by one among us, Vaikom Paul Basheer, a.k.a Paul Mathew.

Come and watch Basheer's life and spend a memorable fun filled evening with us, Under the Mangosteen Tree.

Call 9884570784 for tickets.

Shows on 18th, 19th, 20th - 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Perch.

Moonshine & Skytoffee

2008-01-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

When you madly fall in love with someone what all do you have to do to make them stay, make them love you? Come watch Moonshine & Skytoffee - a play adapted by Rajiv Krishnan from Basheer's short stories. Shows on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th... 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Students get to buy one ticket and get one ticket free at venue. Join us at Museum Theatre. Tickets available at Landmark, venue, or call 9884570784...

Moonshine & Skytoffee

2008-01-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

Our first event went off really well, with Basheer's son, Anees coming from Calicut to open the festival. He was very happy and very touched at the event and said how touched he was that Basheer is being remembered in Chennai.

The first of the 2 English plays opens on Friday. 'Moonshine and Skytoffee' is an amalgamation of two of Basheer's stories, 'The Love Letter' and 'The Card-sharpers Daughter'. Both explore love in unlikely circumstances. 'The Love Letter' is about the love of Kesavan Nayar, a Hindu, for his landlord's daughter Saramma, a Christian. 'The Card-sharpers Daughter' is about the unlikely love that develops between Sainaba, the daughter of a card-sharper, and a lovable rogue, Mandan Muthapa, a pickpocket. How these two couples come together in the face of great odds forms the gist of this story. Both these love stories play themselves out with unexpected twists and turns, all laced with Basheer's sparkling wit and irrepressible humor.
Tickets are available at the venue and at all Landmark outlets.

There are matinee and evening shows... at 3:30 and 7:30pm
Ticket rates for matinee show Rs 100 and for eve show Rs 100 and Rs 200 only

Dont miss it...

Looking forward to seeing you there...

Translucent Umbrellas

2008-01-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

characters of Sangathi Arinhya (Have you heard?) - Basheerikka, ettakaali, jameelabibi, abdul khader,mandan muthappa, ottakannan pokkar, ponkurise thoma........

The sets are in place and the costumes are flowing. The eve of the festival has come. The run-throughs are happening. The schedules are tight. We are practically running through...

Kalpana and John (our set designers) have stayed away from box sets. So, we have some translucent umbrellas, tire wells, and ladders. The space is set free and we can see the plays string together on stage. Basheer's writings breathes life on stage with a mixed scent of laughter, questions, love, interactions, relationships and genuine emotions.

Sangathi Arinhya, especially, strings together Basheerikka's life charged against the socio-political context. The plays use the true essence of Basheer's wry humour. The smell of Kerala, and the look is growing...

the soldier and Basheer - rehearsals (space: G3)

The Festival Launches

2008-01-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

A festival celebrating the legendary Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908 – 1994), in Chennai, January 2008. Basheer was a universally loved and admired Malayalam novelist and short story writer. A gifted raconteur, he drew people from all walks of life to the Mangosteen tree in his house in Beypore, Calicut, where he spent the latter part of his life. Over three weeks, in different venues in the city, we will be presenting two plays, a fun grand mela, a music concert, a photo exhibition, food festival, a writer’s symposium and film screenings, celebrating the magic of Basheer.

And the festt beginnnnnnnnnsss.....!

2008-01-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

"Greetings From PERCH"

presents

"UNDER THE MANGOSTEEN TREE"
(100 YRS OF BASHEER)
A festival celebrating the centenary year of legendary Malayalam short story writer and novelist

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908-1994)
Based on the life and works of the writer, we are presenting the following events at various venues across the city (6th-27th Jan 08)

A Grand Mela
Two English Plays
A Music Concert
Two Films
A Literary Symposium
A Photo Exhibition
A Food Festival
and
A Dance Performance

Basheer lived the last 30 years of his life in the quiet seaside town of Beypore, outside Calicut and was so well-loved that he acquired the sobriquet 'Beypore Sultan'. In Vylalil House, he used to spend his happiest hours 'under the Mangosteen tree' in his garden, writing, listening to music and narrating his stories to an eager gathering of admirers.

Under the Mangosteen Tree is a tribute to this literary icon in his centenary year.
For details and ticket bookings call 9840530269 / 9884570784 .

You could also visit our website http://www.perch.co.in/

Perch Group

2008-01-04T04:48:00.000-08:00

www.perch.co.in

Mooch Nahin To Kooch Nahin!!

2007-12-14T23:06:00.001-08:00

Karuna and Malavika getting moustachioed for the run-through of Sangati Arinhya!(Have You Heard!)

One Evening At The Garage...

2007-12-04T21:32:00.002-08:00

Rajiv (our hassled director): "Ok guys, for better or for worse I am going to have to ask this bunch of rowdies to make some noise for our crowd scenes. *sigh* Lets all take a deep breath and get on with it now ok? Keep your fingers and whatever else you want to crossed! *SIGH*"

Aparna (our verrry enthusiastic ring-leader): Guys!! GUYYYSSS!!!! We have to make LOTS of noise it seems for the crowd scene!!! YAYYYY!!!! All of you follow my lead ok aa? *evil grin*

John (our goateed set designer): Ey man, in Kerala every self-respecting protester will wear red and raise his fist in the air like this. Watch me and learn. *sheesh, what a bunch of monkeys*

Hans (face covered with script. And although we can't see him here, we could most certainly hear him loud and clear!): Hey, shut up all of you and repeat after me. Follow my lead I say! *such children they all are...sigh*

Rashmi (our very own nightingale albeit a ferocious-looking one!): *Look at these people, screeching like a bunch of crows! I'll show them!!*

Vedant (our soft-spoken, always-smiling sound-engineer/musician): *Oh god, I have to make sense of THISSS??? *siiiiighhh*

Rajiv (our by-now even more hassled director): "Guys wait. WAIT!!! You need some more emotion man! Give me emotion!!! Let me show you...

Now THIS is what you call EMOTION!!!!

How We Began...

2007-11-26T02:45:00.001-08:00

22nd November 2007
(conversations over email through googlegroups - parts have been edited :P)

Kaveri: Anyone in the collective a blogger type?
Karuna: Yeah, I've asked someone to put me in touch... We can upload stuff on their blog hopefully.
Kaveri: That's super. Let's do it.
Karuna: YEAHHHHHH also more bloggers...im trying to source their contact... on the job madam erm meim saab... not chariyo i am!
Balaji: Ashwin used to be a great blogger... dono if he still is...
Ashwin: Ah man, I don't blog anymore... that phase has been done with. Thankfully too, if you know what I mean! ;)
Krishna(in form after his comeback): Well, rather than needing to be mentioned in someone else's blog - we should have our own blog and have regular updates on happening, events and interesting anecdotes.
Kaveri: Ya - so who can do that?
Ashwin: Hey, I could set up a blog for us and run with it till the festival....(lots of in between stuff that I edited off :P)...but word can spread pretty fast on the net..if there is a collective meeting on sunday before the performance then this blog thing can be on the agenda...the more i think about it, the more i like the idea...like one blog dedicated to the festival...the url can be included on all our publicity thingies...I'm willing to make the blog, take it up and run with it!
Rakesh(suddenly suprising mail): What about making some crazy very-short video clip to put on you-tube/the blog & advertise the show.
Anushka: Yippeee good idea!
John: Wot aen idea i say...i'm loving it all over
Kaveri: Ashwin - set up blog set up blog set up bleg

.......... Meeting at Garage - 25th November 2007

Ashwin: Okay so about the blog....
Kaveri: Okay Ashwin do it!
Ashwin: Yeah about that... I was thinking....
Nandini(aside): whatever happens, we need to raise money. I don't know how...
Ashwin: Yeah so about the blog... erm...
Krishna: So about the souvenir... I was thinking...
Kaveri: Okay okay, Ashwin, take it up. Do it. I've been to some blogs and it's all light, fun stuff... people discussing things and all that. Okay done. Ashwin you are in charge.
Ashwin: Huh? Erm... okay... uhhh... right we'll talk about it in the next meeting...
(general conversation happening all around)
Rashmi: SILENCE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kaveri: Okay guys!! Ashwin you were saying something?
Ashwin: Huh? No... I'll create it...
Kaveri: Okay good! So about the mela...........................