Sri Shanmukhananda Nataka Shiromani awards 2025 - Inaugural edition

- Chandra Anand
e-mail: chandra6267@yahoo.co.in

October 29, 2025

Of all the performing arts, it is theatre that stands tall as an effective instrument to reach out messages and ideas to society through its audience. It educates masses through entertainment, a slow and sure way to imbibe values and morals of good living.

Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai, held the first inaugural edition of 'Sri Shanmukhananda Nataka Shiromani Awards' 2025 function, on 12th October 2025 at the Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium, Mumbai. The very first set of dramatists, who were chosen for this award - A.R. Srinivasan, Kathadi Ramamurthy (Stage Creations), Gnanam Balasubramaniam (Mahalakshmi Ladies Group), T. V. Varadharajen (United Visuals), Y. G. Mahendran (United Amateur Artistes) - are all renowned for their fastidious contribution to this stage craft and have put in long years of hard work to keep this performing art alive against the assault of cinema.

This was adjoined with a three-day drama festival 'Natakotsavam' and on the award presentation day (Oct 12), the Shanmukhananda Theater Group (STG) premiered a new Tamil drama 'Arul Vaakku' and paid homage to Late G. Subhalakshmi, a former member of the managing committee and joint convener of STG. The other plays presented on preceding days were 'Draupathi' by Komal theatres on 10th October and 'Sikkal Sivaraman' by Stage Creations led by Kathadi Ramamurthy on 11th October.

Draupathi

'Draupathi,' a costumed drama, depicted the story of Draupathi, a protagonist from the epic story Mahabharatha. Director Dharini Komal tries to project Draupathi's life as an example of patience, courage and decision making. In fact, she says when she took up this topic to delineate her thoughts on Draupathi, it was then she became aware of the existence of a number of temples for Draupathi in the city of Chennai itself. The priest explained that she is a powerful goddess who helps fulfill the wishes of her devotees. With this view as a prologue to the story of Draupathi where from her birth she is paraded as a pawn for revenge for her father and then as the tool in "His" plan for the inception of a new world order. Draupathi as a devotee of Lord Krishna is also made known. It's his grace that helps her accept five husbands, be a driving force to bond their energies and strengths together and make them a powerful instrument to help bring in the holocaust. When enquired why these powerful men could not save her from the damned effects of the dice game, Dharini reminds one and all, it's a happening to project that once anyone comes under the addictive influence of gambling or drinking, they even can't save themselves.

Thus, a wonderfully staged costume drama won the hearts of the Mumbai audience on 10th October at Shanmukhananda Auditorium. Accomplished Bharatanatyam artistes Krithikaa Shurajit and Balagurunathan seen in the roles of main protagonists of Draupathi and Lord Krishna, portrayed their roles with conviction and aplomb.

Sikkal Sivaraman

'Sikkal Sivaraman' directed by SL Naanu, portrayed the leanings of the present societal environment. Quite interestingly, it was layered with many truths of life that slowly peeled as the plot uncovered. The prologue displayed the anxiety of the present society with the predominant food apps, reels and videos on social media supplying bizarre knowledge, and the fear of amended norms and systems of forming marriage alliances. The direction presented a staunch belief in the present society going towards the right direction, disclosing patterns of new and old generations co-existing with respect for the young and care for old generations, the importance of having freedom to choose their partners imbibed with a responsible sense of requiring the acknowledgment of the elders and adherence to the age-old caution of inquiry into the groom and bride families.

The plot had families looking out for alliances for their wards. All chaos in the plot arise from personal egos and after a lot of anxiety and confusion amongst all characters present in the play, the protagonist (Sikkal Sivaraman played by Kathadi Ramamurthy) solves these problems with his own theory of dealing with sensitive people (represented by Sensitive Chellappa, played by SL Naanu). Throughout the play the seriousness of the plot was shaded under the umbrella of satire, humor and wit, hovering a little bit on slapstick. For the very first time, the play was performed with LED screen as background.

Sikkal Sivaraman

Arul Vaakku

'Arul Vaakku' meaning prophecy, was a drama staged by STG. The plot originally initiated by Late G Subhalakshmi, was completely written by Santosh Rajan, director of the play. The feel of the play was mellow. The plot presented conflicts between the older and younger generation where a young man (Vignesh) doesn't want to follow the footsteps of his father and a young girl (Kavya) doesn't want to marry a boy chosen by her parents. Both of them feel that their ideas differ from their parents. As the story unfolds, both the stories are linked to a temple where there is a lady soothsayer (Swamini) who senses the problems of devotees and advises them. The boy's story and the soothsayer's lives are linked due to their parents' acquaintance, making the major crux of the story line which reveals a path to live in peace without digging up skeletons and bringing upon upheaval to settled lives. The girl's story acts as a catalyst for belief in the soothsayer's prophecies and portrays the ideas of the young on arranged marriages. Finally, it brings out the fact that all parents definitely look out for the happiness of their children whether it is to settle in a good vocation or fix a marriage alliance. The major story line had messages to society like "let bygones be bygones and carry forward with a positive step towards the future" and "forgive and forget and live and let live" ensuring a safe and peaceful life for one and all.

Swamini role was played by Shruti Aditya nee Natanakumar, also an accomplished Bharatanatyam artiste, granddaughter of Guru Kalayanasundaram and Mythili (artistic directors of Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatanatya Kala Mandir) and daughter-in-law of Dr. Jayashree Rajagopalan (Bharatanrityam artiste and artistic director of Nrityodaya, Mumbai).

Chandra Anand is a Bharatanatyam artiste and teacher. She has an MA in Bharatanatyam from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, and her series on 'Education in spiritual values through Bharatanatyam' is featured in narthaki.com.