For the implementation of a Foundation Project by IFA under Explorations that will delve into the philosophical dimensions of finding a physical theatrical performative form for the ritualistic singing of the Arichandran (Harischandra) song that is sung only orally, during the death ritual, in front of the Arichandran temple located at the entrance of the graveyard in Puducherry. The outcomes of the project will be a playscript in Tamil and theatrical experiments in an open-air theatre. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be the Tamil playscript along with photographs, and audio-visual documentation of the theatrical artistic process. Project funds will pay for travel and living, contract fees, hire of equipment, hire of venue, materials, printing, and stationery.
For practice-based research on the historical, theatrical and psychological aspects of characterisation in the performance of Therukoothu towards making a play in the form of documentary theatre. Through extensive interviews with the Therukoothu artists and by studying the process of preparing actors for various characters, the project aims to explore pedagogy, performativity and the contemporary trends that have influenced the form in various ways. The outcome will be a documentary theatre production. The Grantee’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be audiovisual documentation of the interviews conducted in the field and the documentation of the theatre production. Grant funds will pay for an honorarium, equipment rental, travel food and stay, production costs, professional fees and an accountant’s fee.
