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| ‘Medi Arts’, c/o Dr.Venugopal, 'Divyasree', Perinthalmanna, Malappuram |
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For 14 years they have been in the forefront of creating public awareness about AIDS through the drama they perform: Dr.Venugopal and the ‘Medi Arts’ from Perinthalmanna have been staging the social campaign through their drama ‘Aksha Hrudayam’ without support from official quarters.
The 30-member dramatis personae include doctors and policemen, nurses and an ex Muncipal President besides a host of others from different walks of life. They join together to spread the message of AIDS prevention without considering the balance sheet.
After Dr.Venugopal took charge as pediatrician Government Hospital, Perinthalmanna, the doctors thought of doing something different for the annual hospital day celebration. Their discussions culminated in the idea of a drama. In 1990, under the leadership of IMA, Perinthalmanna, when the Medi Arts took up the theme of AIDS for their new drama, they had the intention to spread the message that AIDS patients needed compassion. While Ravi Angadippuram, a policeman wrote the dialogues and directed it, Dr. Venugopal converted his house itself into a rehearsal camp cum office of the troupe. That they have been able to sustain the enthusiasm and manage the practical aspects of running the troupe is a tribute to the members of the cast.
After staging many performances in Malappuram district, ‘Aksha Hrudayam’ is now being enacted in other districts also. Once Director of State AIDS Cell, Dr.Madhavan Nair saw the performance and appreciated it. As a result, the troupe received small monetory assistance for 1 year. But apart from that, it has been a self-sponsored activity right through.
The cast
Courtesy: Babu Thachinganadam, Sree, Malayala Manorama, May 9, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
