Ibsen, K P Kumaran and Akashagopuram

By John Cheeran
If you decide to read one book this year, let it be Henrik Ibsen’s Master Builder. I read this brilliant, psychological thriller of a play recently.
The Norwegian playwright Ibsen wrote Master Builder in his twilight. The play deals with the battles the Master has to fight with different demons in his mind.
The Master’s stubborn approach to issues --- for example he is not ready to pave the way for the young generation – forms the core of the play. This reluctance to accept young talent one can see in today’s Indian cricket, where seniors had ganged up against the young Turks. Well, not just in cricket. But the refusal to give way to the young is so prevalent in all spheres of our life.
I suggest the Board of Control for Indian Cricket, instead of running after cheap shrinks such as Sandy Gordon and thinking hats, give copies of Ibsen’s Master Builder to all its chosen players at the international level.
Ibsen also comes into my mind for reasons other than cricket.
K.P. Kumaran is directing a movie called “Akasha Gopuram” which is based by Ibsen’s Master Builder. K.P. Kumaran is one of the finest Indian filmmaker but remains largely unsung by the usual claptrap of movie critics.
I’m sure Kumaran is capable of handling the subtleties and complexities of handling a subject such as the Master Builder.
I have only watched Kumaran’s Neram Pularumbol (At the time of the dawn, which starred Mammooty, Mohanlal) and Rugmini.
And who can forget Neram Pularumbol, for it brought out the biting beauty of Ramya Krishnan. That was Ramya’s debut movie. She never appeared more beautiful in another movie though she revealed more of herself. But Kumaran had that rare ability that helped Ramya to reveal her heart in Neram Pularumbol.
Kumaran himself in a recent interview pointed out that his best movie was Athithi (Guest) made in 1974. A political film with gravitas, Athithi did not had to compete with G Aravindan’s Utharayanam for the award sweepstakes. But Athithi is still talked about and never parts away from our consciousness.May be ‘Akashagopuram’, which stars Mohanlal will manage to please critics and commoner. I hope Kumaran’s commitment to serious filmmaking will find its deserving recognition through Akashagopuram.
After all a Master Builder deserves his deserts!