Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)

Mangalore, Mar 20: It indeed needs a lot of gumption and grit to stage a play of this kind.

The playwright had it all right. The performer who played Judas, Arun Raj Rodrigues, too had it and so did the Mangalore University's Chair in Christianity and Dharma Samanvaya organization who staged the play.

A good part of the large crowd that gathered in the amphitheatre of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work in the late evening of Sunday, March 19, 2006 was perhaps greeted and treated by kind of a shock treatment as the play 'Zudas' in Konkani, penned by Pratap Naik SJ and directed by Denis Monteiro Pai, Kiram-Vamanjoor slowly unfolded.

It was a challenge to the thinking minds to ruminate and analyze, to divert from the set theories and dogmas and get into a healthy debate. If the saints-to-be, before their Canonization, could have Devil's Advocates to run them down in every way possible, why couldn't Judas, perhaps, unjustifiably so, the most despicable character in the whole universe, have his defenders and defence counsels?

It was in this spirit that the audience watched the play avidly and in pindrop silence. Judas' character is thrown open threadbare to public scrutiny. Several characters from the scriptures are compared and contrasted, to make the viewers think and masticate the thoughts. Was Judas indeed a villain of the piece, or a victim of a smear campaign?

At the end of it all, the playwright, the solo artiste and the analytical audience - all come out clean, with a clear mind and judgement.

If the play succeeded in keeping the entire audience glued to their seats, the interaction that followed provided even more grist to the thinking minds.

It was indeed proof to the fact that the modern society is more open to dialogue and discussion than remaining shackled to perverse theories and thinking.

Chair in Christianity head and professor Dr John Fernandes moderated a healthy and thought-provoking discussion on various facets of the theme and dialogues of the play. It was heart-warming to see several scholars, besides Dr Pratap Naik, putting forth their viewpoints in a cordial and accommodating way.

It was felt that avenues be explored to stage the play at different venues around town and district to create awareness and tolerance over differnt shades of opinion.

Editor's note:  The play had its maiden show in Mangalore almost two years ago. It took just over two years for the play to be staged the second time.

What could have been the reason? Refusal of the people to see beyond the tunnel vision imposed by age-old beliefs? Or is it because any questioning attitude could be looked down upon as kind of heresy?

The play was first staged at Kalaangann on March 7, 2004. Daijiworld published a review of the play by Resident Editor Richie Lasrado on March 9. 2004.

The review was highly acclaimed by scholars, no less in eminence like former Goa University  Vice Chancellor Prof Olivinho Gomes, Mangalore University's Chair in Christianity head and professor Dr John Fernandes and several others.

As requested by many of our readers and for the benefit of those who missed reading it the last time, we reproduce the review.

Juxtaposition of Judas - Play Reviewed by Richie Lasrado   Please click here