Activities 2007
It is resisted on 18th March 1992, under the society act. In the year 2001, new members took change of the executive. The new members look forward for the future plan and work efficiently. The activities of the group as follows: Kootu-k-kural performed the various play with help of the members during the year 2007 given below: 14th of February, we had the programme at Nagpur. We were rehearsal and made performance at Nagpur in Nagarjuna Training Institute. Nearly 300 people were seen out programme. We performed play, dance and skits. Every 15th of March, we are organization consumer day. In this year also we organized the Consumer day with help of the “Consumer Rights Organization” at Suldanpet, Kobalankadi and Manveli. We play about the Consumer awareness, Alteration, measurement, Standard and Price. 13th and 14th of April, we organized the Cultural Nights with Segather Cultural Team. The ADECOM Partners were participated in their cultural teams to show their performance. The whole night the programmme was celebrated in the big manner. Nearly 2500 people were participated in and around the village Kapperikkupam. It was a great celebration for the Dr. Ambedkar’s birthday. 10th of May we were organized the theatre program in the village Uruvaiyaru about the land right issue. Because those area to allocated to the industrial area. Most of lands are converted to Real Estate. It leads to unemployment to the agricultural labourers. We played “Nilakkuviyal”, songs and skit for the programme. Mr. Elumalai was the coordinated the programme. 12th of May, we were organized the another programe in the Village Manamedu. In this village the liquor problems are more. We played the demerits of the liquor and effects to the health problem. We play the “Kudimagan” skits and songs were performed there. Ms. Rajaveni was coordinated the programme. After one week the play was performed, the local people fight against to close the liquor shop near their village. It was great success for our performance. Why is there a need for Dalit Theatre? We have limited information on Dalit theatre findings and it is important to collect more information in this particular field. For that purpose we realized the importance of this research and the need to organize a National Workshop on Dalit Theatre. In Dalit theatre events held previously in several places and the materials were presented in workshops. Dalit theatre performed and the same efforts were taken by the groups. However, we do not have the proper research on those materials. For that reason we have decided to undertake proper Research on Dalit Theatre at National level and to disseminate this information to others for Dalit liberation. How and why should we develop Dalit Theatre? Dalit theatre has given opportunity to the artists to go from Street to the Public stage; it has helped to revive the people from threats to livelihood, to discharge their clutches from slavery to liberation. The world theatre history has grown from Aristotle period until now for the relevance of the social needs. Many people resisted through cultural struggle in Soufh African countries at the end of the 1960’s. The eminent scholars, Paulo Freire, Augusto Boal created and formed the alternative education and alternative theatre thereby giving the new identity of oppressed culture. Dalit theatre is one component of the oppressed theatre in India. Dalit theatre is a powerful tool for opposing caste hierarchy, caste violence, brahminical practices and to create the mindset for rationalism Dalit theatre is an important media for Dalit liberation. After the centenary of Dr.Ambedkar, Dalit theatre enclosed the concept of Dalit liberation. Research showed that there is need for identifying and developing the arts of Dalit theatre in the current context. Mainly the concept has to be focused on Dalit aesthetics, Body language, Politics and Culture. Theatre is an influential weapon for Social Transformation. Social theatre mainly includes and focuses on the concepts of Racism, Marxism, Periyarism, Dalitism, Feminism, Tribal, Aravanigal, Working classes, Children. In oppressed theatre to recognize the plays through conceptual clarity to reach for Dalit liberation. Dalit theatre will be planned in four levels. Second is to organize the Dalit theatre performance in the evening. This is for open forum to invite the public. For this we planned to arrange the play ground and nearly 5000 peoples are expecting in this event. Twelve groups from different states in India requested to present the performance related on Dalit theatre. The special invitees (Dalits as well as other intellectuals) will critically analyse the theatre performance and they give the findings at the end of the event. The public opinion will be included for each performance in this regard the questionnaire will be distributed to the audience. Third is to document the whole events. The documents will be in print and visual Medias. After finalize the research documents have been publishing for book format. This work will be taking for several weeks. Forth level is to organize the follow up actions. To test the Dalit theatre elements in District level workshop has been arranged. This follow up performance will be taking places in different Districts of Other states in India, Tamilnadu and Puducherry. Who are the initiators? Kuzhathaigal Kutharangam 2nd July, of the Cultural program were organized at Pidagam. Drum beating, kompattam, the skits and songs were performed. The people were come to gather from around the Pattagam village. Nearly 450 people were gathering programme. The main aim of the gathering was to promote the Dr. Ambedkar version of the Buddhism. 13th of July, Human rights day celebration by Federation Human Right Organation at Cuddalore. They invited Kootukkural to performmed in their programme. We play the “Chattam Pesukirathu” about the legal system. Nearly the 2500 people were participated in the programme. 12th to 17th of August, theatre training was given to the members of the Kootukkural at Bothi Cultural Centre. Mr. Murugesa Bharathi, Mr. Binukumar, and Mr. Perumal were the trainer of the programme. In the training programme, we were focused on acting, dance and skit development. Nearly 17 people were participated in the training. 26th of August, theatre program was organized in Arasur village. The drum beating, health aspects were performed. We had the performance regarding the sanitation, health and environmental issues. 10th to 12th of September, theatre rehearsals were organized in the Bothi Cultural Centre for the Campaign Programme, Chembaram. The rehearsals were mainly focused on the various plays, skit, dance and songs related on Special Compound Plan and SC/ST Atrocities Act. The rehearsals were coordinated by Mr. Elumalai and Ms.Vijaya. 24th to 30th of September, the campaign for the Special Compound Plan and SC/ST Atrocities act in Chithamparam Block in Cuddalore district. We covered the nearly 15 villages in the area. Totally 2500 population were benefited the programme. 23rd to 25th of November, Media training was organized in Vasantham ORD Centre, Arani. Mr. T. Sivikumar, Field Publicity officer Vellore were participated as trainer. The Training was focused on “to understand about the media mainly print media and electronic media, to speck, and writ the report to the media”. The kootukkural members were participated. 7th of December, the Environmental programme was organized at Uzhavarkarai. The programme organized to increase the awareness about the importance of the environmental issues. The kootukkural played the “Amaiyathu Olagu” about the water problem in the world. The programmes were coordinated by Mr. Idhayamani. Ms. Deisirani, Leader Pengal Pagutharivu Iyakkam, Mr. Anibal, the Counsilar, Uhavarkarai were participated in the programme. 26th to 30th of December, theatre training was organized in ADECOM Network. Ms. Julie was the trainer of the programme. She was focused the training on the attentiveness, mind, body excise for the theatre. The all members of the kootukural were participated the training programme.Introduction
Oppressed Theatre questions the direct and Proxy socio economic oppression and exploitation. Kootu-k-kural is collective voice of Emancipation and the theatre for the disadvantaged and impoverished (a street theatre group of Pondicherry). The intention is to reach out grass root population and the slums through disseminating thought provoking ideas and alternatives to overcome the social crisis. It is working a long period of time since 1992.The goal
To use theatre as a powerful media to bring in changes in the mind set of the community to obtain social justice and human liberation from all chains.Objectives
Its’ Activities
On the basis of our objectives we conducted many programme, workshops, seminars, conferences and theatre performances in urban and rural places. Through our activities we trained the volunteers and they got skill in street theatre performance. The missions of the activities are the following:
Theatre training
Five days training for the members on dram batting, traditional dance and skits. This train was conducted by Mr. Binukumar, Mr. Perumal and Mr. Elumalai. The members are participated and trained on those items, 9th to 13th of February 2007. First National Workshop on Dalit Theatre
This year we have decided to organize the first National Workshop on Dalit Theatre in Villupuram, with the collaboration of ADECOM Network and Dalit Resource Centre, Theological College in Madurai. The main objectives of the workshop are:
Dalit theatre is not an exposure one; it is powerful, militant and radical element. Most of the elements are directly linked with correlation of production. In Dalit theatre is comprised of Adivugal (theatrical steps), dance, songs all have to be narrated on against the oppression towards Dalit liberation.
One is to organize the Dalit Workshop to invite the eminent writers and artists presented their papers related on their subjects. Limited people will be participated in this workshop. This has been arranged in the auditorium, Villupuram nearly 200 members are expecting this whole day event. The subjects decided for ten themes:
This idea came from Dr.Chinnappan,(who got doctor degree in Dalit Theatre) lecturer in College. He has the experience in Dalit theatre and he done the bookwork in his past state level workshop. He talked with Ms.P.Lalida from ADECOM Network, Mr.S.Perumal a street theatre movement called Kootu-K-Kural and Mr. K.S. Muthu from Dalit Resource centre, theological college. We talked about the importance of this Dalit Theatre and we designed the workshop at National level. In our first meet with other friends in Villupuram they also welcomed this new initiative. Now we formed the coordinating committee to take care of the different responsibilities to organize this event. On that basis the festival held on 25th of May, at Villupuram. We believe that the participatory and collective way of sharing our work will achieve our mission on Dalit theatre towards Dalit liberation.
Nearly 16 Theatre groups were participated in the festival all over the India.
We were coordinated the Kuzhathaigal Kutharangam (Children theatre)on 9th of June and 25th of July in the villages Sembiyablayam and Amanakuppam respectively.
