Tamil Audio Play: Punitha Velli

Report on the Staging of the Tamil Audio Play ‘Punitha Velli’ by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Madras

Key Highlights:
On the eve of Easter, April 19, 2025, a diverse group of friends and supporters of the Chennai-based Gandhi Peace Foundation, representing various faiths, convened to stage a Tamil audio play titled ‘Punitha Velli’ (Holy Friday).

The participants: Dr. S. Kulandaisamy, Mr.Prem S, Ms.Indhumathi.C, Mr. Senthil Velan I.A.& A.S(Retd.), Mr. P.Poornachandran, Mr.S.Chandru, Mr.K.Mohan, Mr. Malli Baskar, Ms.Jubila Richard, Mr. Ravishankar, Movlavi B.M.Khaleelur Rahman.

The play, conceived and written by Dr. S. Kulandaisamy, Secretary of GPF, presented a unique format where the participants simultaneously embodied the roles of actors and audience members. The narrative unfolded through the dialogues of individuals watching a stage production centered on the Crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday.

This innovative approach fostered a deeply personal and reflective experience for all involved.

The participants’ spontaneous commentaries on the scenes from the Life of Christ served as a catalyst for introspection, prompting them to draw parallels between the biblical narrative and their daily lives.

This process facilitated an exploration of the intricate relationship between the body and soul, emphasizing the significance of a nonviolent lifestyle as a pathway to transcending the physical realm and achieving spiritual resonance.

The characters portrayed through the dialogues embodied virtues such as rationalism, faithfulness, realisation, acceptance, and the value inherent in manual labor. Notably, the enduring principle of ‘living by manual work,’ as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, emerged as a central theme, sparking further discussion among the participants following the play reading.

In the post-performance session, the attendees shared personal anecdotes and lifestyle choices rooted in these profound revelations.

Remarkably, these diverse reflections converged on the overarching theme of Peace, underscoring its critical importance in the present context.