Doctor back on stage

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not new to see actors appear either on silver screen or on stage in roles where they de-glamourise themselves to leave their mark while living a character. But when Ambikatmajan Nair, alias Dr Ambi, dons the greasepaint for a play which is staged after 40 long years and which had won wide acclaim in the past for the brilliant script by the late N Krishna Pillai, it is really news. For the character T S Nair, a victim who bears the brunt of an acid-throwing incident in ‘Marupacha’, Dr Ambi relives it while cherishing it with sepia-tinted memories. Prof N Krishna Pillai wrote ‘Marupacha’ in 1966. Dr Ambi is the only contemporary actor who is appearing in the popular play. He had acted in many of Krishna Pillai’s plays when the doyen was active on the stage. On the 95th birth anniversary of the thespian, the play performed at a venue here on Tuesday virtually captured the aesthetic world of the theatre fraternity in the capital city.  Out of the six characters of the play, Dr Ambi enacts T S Nair. ‘Marupacha’ revolves around the theme where T S Nair corrects his younger brother Gangadharan Nair, the main character of the play. The play tells the story of Gangadharan Nair, a top government official who hates everything in the world, undergoing a metamorphosis and learning to shower love on all those around, by taking valuable lessons from his elder brother.  Director of the play S Radhakrishnan, Programming Executive at Akashvani, answers why Dr Ambi was chosen to enact the role when the play had hit the stage after four decades. “I felt no actor in the capital city could give life to the role of T S Nair as Dr Ambi. He is so affectionate and good at heart.” His words prove right once we speak to him. Dr Ambi does not wish to be in the limelight. To trace the life story of Dr Ambi, the words of Radhakrishnan are most reliable. As one born in Mavelikkara and who moved to the capital city during his intermediate studies, Dr Ambi passed out of the Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, with flying colours. The acting talent of Dr Ambi was unveiled by Vayanasala Kesavapillai, the founder of the Sri Chithira Thirunal Grandhasala, who was in  search of new talents in theatre. Dr Ambi had given life to many characters in Krishna Pillai’s  plays ‘Kudathile Vilakku’, ‘Azhimukhathekku’ and ‘Bhagnabhavanam’.  He also made expeditions with theatre personality Vayala Vasudevan Pillai in his voyage in the experimental theatre scenario. He was also honoured with the award for the best actor by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy for the play ‘Poornakumbham’ in the 1980s, in which he etched the role of the father of Sree Buddha. A multifaceted  personality, he has juggled the roles of an academician, medic and actor with ease, in his life covering 76 years. Relishing a retired life for the past two decades, he has been a notable figure on the mini screen too. He also marked his appearance in the movie ‘Elektra’. At present, he is acting in the  tele-serial ‘Nilavilakku’.