Sitting for long hours at the desk? Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Pushkar Chawla shares how to protect the back and spine Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:58:18 IST By Debapriya Bhattacharya Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Poor posture at work can lead to problems with the back and the spine
A patient once told me that her blood sugar reading in the morning was higher than the one she had taken after dinner the night before. She hadn’t eaten a single thing. “How is this even possible?" she asked. “I haven’t had breakfast yet." That question comes up in my clinic almost every
Step inside the regal Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, where a one-night stay will cost you ₹4 lakh: Watch Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:06:37 IST By Krishna Pallavi Priya Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A look inside the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad
Every year at about this point in the rains, the same sequence plays out. Outpatient departments fill with feverish patients, a city announces a jump in confirmed cases, television rediscovers the phrase “swine flu," and within a fortnight the anxiety has moved on to something else
‘Walking is one of the most underrated things’: Geriatric doctor says you don't need to join a gym to start exercising Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 10:52:55 IST By Eshana Saha Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Read more to find out why walking is an underrated form of exercise! (Unsplash)
Vanapechi: A theatrical reimagining of Nature’s struggle and heroism starring actor Rohini
Vanapechi: A theatrical reimagining of Nature’s struggle and heroism starring actor Rohini
Tamil playwright, activist, and theatre exponent Pralayan has a crew full of young and talented artistes starring in his latest play Vanapechi (Queen of the forest) all set to premiere at the Provoke Theatre Festival on November 2. When asked about what it is like to work with the Gen Z, the founder of Chennai Kalai Kuzhu, a group which began 40 years ago, Pralayan admits in jest that the “boomer uncles” and those perceived as older, cease to have a vocabulary that can engage with them in depth. Yet, his belief in a fundamental truth, sets him free. “I know that they are attracted to the truth,” he says.
In his consistent attempt at this truth telling, something that has sustained his theatre troupe through times in the 1980s when sedition cases against theatre artistes by the Tamil Nadu government were rife, he brings to the world his new play starring actor Rohini in the lead.
Vanapechi tells the tale of Thadagai from the Hindu epic Ramayana. In Valmiki's version of the tale, she is a rakshasi, a monster or a witch. She is slayed by the hero of this tale, Rama. Yet, Pralayan subverts this narrative. “This story is told from Thadagai's lens. She is a metaphor for Nature. In the epic, she is ‘disfigured' or ‘distorted' by Rama. This is an injustice to someone who merely wanted to protect the forest. The play, in the urban context, speaks about the steady disfiguration of Nature. We need to act now as climate change is steadily becoming an urgent global concern. It hopes to make the audience rethink our most fundamental questions -- who are we and where are we headed,” he says.
The crew from Vanapechi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
When asked why Indian theatre artistes and writers keep going back to storied epics, Pralayan replies that these tales, which encompass some history and a heavy dosage of myth, are often only told through the lens of the victors. “In this play, we challenge that perspective. Indologists have repeatedly written that there are over 300 versions of the Ramayana. We do not want to impose the same arbitrary values that [in this case] Valmiki chose to say. We want to ask questions about it. Thadagai was technically wronged. Who is she, if not a hero,” he says. To him, his artistic choices inform his politics and vice versa. However, his creative expression always takes precedence over politics, he says. “Invariably, they are one,” he adds.
Pralayan chose to cast actor Rohini, who has starred in countless Tamil features including the likes of Magalir Mattum and Marubadiyum, because of their continued association since 2006. The two had met at an event by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writer's Association where Rohini was being felicitated. It was director Balu Mahendra who suggested he meet her. “After a while, when I worked as an assistant director and writer with actor Kamal Haasan, particularly during the time of Virumaandi, did we begin interacting again. For many years now, she has been acting in plays by Chennai Kalai Kuzhu. She is now, the lead in this play, he says.
Actor Rohini, who is intently steeped in rehearsing her lines with her colleagues at Mindscreen, their rehearsal venue, says that world over, cinema's greatest actors have gone back to their theatrical roots and allowed the audiences to understand the full extent of their acting potential. Yet, Tamil actors seldom take this pathway, limiting themselves to the celluloid. “I've been trying to change that for myself since 2010 because I have observed that some of my most favourite actors, including Nasiruddin Shah, are products of theatre. Through Thadagai, I wish to tell people that Nature isn't meek. What gives us the right to be masters of it. I don't think she will wait to strike back,” she says.
Art is, perhaps, the most efficient way to communicate this fact, she adds.
Catch Vanapechi at the Provoke Theatre Festival on November 2 at The Music Academy, TTK Road. Gates open at 5pm and entry is free.
Published - October 29, 2025 07:19 pm IST
The Hindu MetroPlus
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: street theatre chennai,things to do chennai,ramayana,events chennai november 2,Chennai Kalai Kuzhu,Pralayan
There are few things as satisfying as biting into a buttery, flaky almond croissant, especially when you get that rich almond flavour, creamy frangipane filling and slightly crisp, toasted edges in every bite. But when a croissant craving hits and you don’t have a bakery run planned—or all the
12 hours ago
Erling Haaland debuts new buzz haircut after chopping his iconic blonde locks: ‘+999 missed calls from shampoo company’ Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 08:58:32 IST By Krishna Pallavi Priya Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Erling Haaland debuts a fresh, new buzz cut
12 hours ago
Parents should check medicine labels carefully before giving cough or cold remedies to young children. The Union Health Ministry has restricted all fixed-dose combination medicines containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride from being used in children below four years of
12 hours ago
Tandoori chicken should be smoky and seared on the outside, yet juicy and tender on the inside. But it can often turn out dry, rubbery and lacking flavour, even when you’ve used all the right spices. The problem may not be the recipe itself, but a few small mistakes during preparation and cooking
1 days ago
Want to know how healthy your heart is? Cardiologist Dr Sanjay Bhojraj lists 9 blood tests for ‘cardiovascular risk’ Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:34:50 IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Dr. Bhojraj highlights nine blood tests to assess cardiovascular health
1 days ago
We tend to think of constipation as a plumbing problem: eat more fibre, drink more water, take isabgol and wait for things to move. For occasional constipation, that approach can be perfectly reasonable. But when constipation keeps returning despite these measures
1 days ago
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women, but its biggest known cause is persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which is closely linked to sexual transmission. While HPV itself is not caused by men
1 days ago
Chakra Horoscope Today, August 23, 2026: An obstacle does not necessarily mean you are on the wrong path Updated on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:49:03 IST By Kishori Sud Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Chakra Horoscope Today, August 23, 2026 (Pinterest) Daily Chakra Horoscope, August 23
1 days ago
Dahi vade may not be the first dish that comes to mind when planning a Sawan Somwar vrat menu, but Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s fasting-friendly version gives the classic snack a clever twist. Instead of lentils, these vade are made with cooked barnyard millet, also known as sama or samak
1 days ago
59-year-old grandmother and Roadies 20 contestant Ashu Jain shares 5 hacks that helped her 'build gym habits that stick’ Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 10:12:34 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ashu Jain is not just a grandmother — she's a 'hybrid athlete'
1 days ago
Could artificial intelligence compress decades of medical progress into just a few years? Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei believes advanced AI systems may soon transform how we fight cancer, Alzheimer’s and other major diseases. Amodei has predicted that AI-enabled biology could compress 50 to 100
1 days ago
Look out of an aircraft window as it descends into Chennai and the coastline is the first thing that catches your eye. A long blue-grey edge against the city, with the sea on one side and the sprawling city on the other. From up there, it looks permanent
1 days ago
Soha Ali Khan, along with her husband Kunal Khemu, is known for setting couple goals through their fitness content. The couple have consistently shared videos showing their workouts in the gym, how they parent their kids together, the healthy food they eat without compromising on taste
1 days ago
As Onam 2026 approaches, here is our curated guide from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru covering everything from elaborate restaurant thalis to convenient takeaway sadya boxes. We consult chefs on how they are reimagining the traditional sadya; we ask celebrities how
1 days ago
Raksha Bandhan is all about celebrating the special bond between siblings. This year, show your siblings how much you mean to them and make the occasion sweeter by making everyone’s favourite kalakand at home. If you are looking for a festive dessert that is indulgent yet skips refined sugar
1 days ago
Thirty-nine-year-old Shivendra came in with what looked like an ordinary monsoon fever. Fifteen days later, he was still in hospital, only being discharged now after being diagnosed with H1N1-related pneumonia. His wife, Poonam, said the family did not take the fever seriously at first. “Actually
1 days ago
Postpartum pain is NOT just ‘normal’: Physiotherapist Muskan Rastogi reveals all about pelvic floor recovery Postpartum recovery involves more than just pain management; it includes pelvic floor rehabilitation to restore strength and reduce discomfort for new mothers. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug has been arrested in the US state of Texas on charges of driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and illegal possession of a firearm. Allen County Police confirmed to BBC Newsbeat the 28-year-old, whose real name is Xavier Landum, was stopped on Friday
1 days ago
44-year-old fitness coach shares simple exercises that help her look ‘15 years younger’ Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 13:24:38 IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Fitness coach shares 4 simple exercises to improve posture and look more youthful. (Instagram/@sascha
2 days ago
The Madhya Pradesh Health Department has ordered a high-level medical and legal investigation after a 6 woman from Ujjain died following treatment at a private hospital in Indore. She had tested positive for H1N1 influenza, commonly called swine flu
2 days ago
No food after 6 pm to boxing: Inside Dua Lipa’s fitness routine and fasting rules for toned body on her 31st birthday Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 14:11:05 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Dua Lipa turned 31 on August 22, 2026
2 days ago
The DJ dropped the beat and 70 women started throwing punches. By the time the first kickboxing combination was called out, Moon Bar, a Visakhapatnam club had shed its weekend persona to turn into a makeshift fitness floor, with women punching, kicking
2 days ago
A couple of years ago, when Osman Abdul Razak was being fitted for a suit by Yuki Igarashi, founder of Japan-based menswear brand Lecteur, he recalls being struck by how neatly Yuki’s pins were arranged on his pin cushion. “As an onlooker there, I couldn’t help but analyse this precision
2 days ago
Baro Market is coming to Chennai with a pop-up bringing together fashion, craft, art, accessories and lifestyle products, with a focus on conscious living and handcrafted design. Curated by Srila Chatterjee, the showcase marks her third pop-up in the city
2 days ago
Step inside ₹200 crore royal residence in Hyderabad: Shaped like a scorpion and home to 'world's longest dining table' Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 10:22:41 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The palace in the shape of a scorpion: Here's a virtual tour of the magnificent
2 days ago
On Fourth Trust Link Street at Santhome in Mylapore, a piece of vacant land cheek by jowl with a Greater Chennai Corporation-run middle school was being armtwisted every day into functioning as a garbage dumping spot by residents and passersby
2 days ago
Have high cholesterol? Nutritionist lists 9 heart-friendly cooking oil options Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 11:00:04 IST By Aayushi Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Cooking oils that may help manage cholesterol and support heart health
2 days ago
