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silappadhikaaram .....a story of women of substance
Silappadhikaaram, regarded as one of the world's cultural treasures and a crown jewel of Tamil Sangam literature, is the inspiration for the upcoming dance-theatre performance Silappadhikaaram…a story of women of substance. A contemporary adaptation by poet and writer, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, the production revolves around the character of its two female protagonists – Kannagi and Madhavi –who lived their lives with great courage, character, grace and dignity. Silappadhikaaram, a literary masterpiece by Ilango Adigal (a Chera prince-turned-ascetic) from the 2nd century A.D, is the story of the authority (“adhikaaram”) that flows from justice, righteousness, loyalty and courage. It is the story of Kannagi, an extraordinary woman who exemplified these traits -- the devout wife of Kovalan who through her impeccable character and virtuous nature avenged her husband's unjust execution by cursing the city of Madurai to ashes. To an almost equal measure, it is the story of Madhavi, a seductive courtesan, who rose far above the character that is generally associated with her inherited profession in life. And, it is about Kovalan, who flitted between these women with all the loyalty of a butterfly. Conceived and created as a historical dance-theater production, anchored around the strengths of its two women of substance, the story describes the travails of Kovalan…..smitten by the charms of the celebrated courtesan, Madhavi, he squanders all his personal wealth, after which he is engulfed with remorse and repentance. Supported by his understanding wife, Kannagi, and in search of better fortunes, he leaves Kaverippatnam for the Pandyan Kingdom of Madurai, famed for its affluence and justice. Here, a city goldsmith looking at Kannagi's anklet that Kovalan offers to sell, falsely accuses him of having stolen the Queen's Anklet, resulting in Kovalan being hanged without trial….this brings outraged Kannagi to the court, demanding retribution for the King's impropriety that led to her husband's death. She publicly embarrasses the king with the truth regarding her husband's innocence, and in her anger curses the city of Madurai to flames. The city burns to ashes and Kannagi departs for the land of the Cheras where the legend of Kannagi is born. Henceforth she comes to be revered as the Goddess of Chastity. While one could characterize Kannagi and Madhavi as individuals representing opposite ends of the spectrum in a society's framework, both were really women of great strength, character and substance. Madhavi was not just a courtesan. She was an intellectual – questioning tradition using her conscience and reasoning to choose alternate paths, at no time losing sight of her own duties as a courtesan. She fell in love with Kovalan, and transcended her own calling in life. Her profession demanded her to be assertive, to seduce… but, Madhavi's choice to be loyal to only one man, to uninitiate her daughter into a profession of her own inheritance in life, and later turn renunciate, against family disapproval and all societal odds of the time, must have taken great courage! Kannagi, was a reticent woman, but executing her dharma -- injustice to her, she accepted with serenity, injustice to her husband, she fought with courage as she confronted the Pandyan King and raised public issue about the miscarriage of justice! She showed grace and magnanimity in accepting Kovalan's repentance over his impulsive behavior, when he returned like a child expecting to be chastised. She displayed her otherwise archetypal quiet, inner strength when she publicly raged against the one who had unjustly destroyed Kovalan. It is a powerful story that does much more than tell a tale; it paints a prismatic picture enriched with striking details of the socio-political, economic and cultural aspects of the lives and mores of the people of the times. It conveys many morals, chiefly, 'what you sow, you reap'. It brings to bear how the seemingly insignificant decisions and actions, as described in this epic – the ordering of a daughter's anklets at a particular jeweler's…. a debut dance performance….a mischievous love-song on a sea-shore – such miniscule, apparently unlinked moments and actions of the characters in the story, turned out to be events of significance that charted the very course of their lives, unleashing an irrevocable chain of events. In the decisions made between right vs. wrong; foolish vs. wise; impulsive vs. reflective – in those choices lie the direction and content of each of our lives, through all lifetimes, through all eternity. This theatrical production attempts to take the audience on a journey to those most civilized of times in the Sangam era and, hopefully, steal a glimpse of what the author saw. The epic is so brilliantly crafted, it evokes a sense of timeless identification with the virtues and weaknesses of its characters. For, it is not merely the story of its women of substance and Kovalan – but of love and life….of dreams and duties…..of injustice and retribution, of righteous living and karma. In all who read Ilango's masterpiece, there emerges a sublime generosity and compulsive need to share its wealth, to embark on a literary treasure hunt in hungry search for every little detail that perhaps inspired him, or even merely attracted his attention. The upcoming theatrical performance is an attempt to seek and find, and then present these details, so all may partake of this feast, understand and appreciate the presence and play of creative forces. For, what use is knowledge, unless it touches many lives, spreading gently in ever-widening circles? |
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