Thoppil Bhasi
Encyclopedia
Thoppil Bhasi (born 1925 – died 1992) was a Malayalam playwright
, screenwriter
, and film director
. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala
and his play Ningalenne Communistakki
(You Made Me a Communist) is considered to be a groundbreaking event in the history of Malayalam theatre.
Thoppil Bhasi was born in Vallikunnam, a small village in Alappuzha district
of Kerala
, India. He was associated with the communist movements that took place in Kerala during 1940s and 1950s. He wrote the play "Ningalenne Communistakki" while in hiding in connection with the Sooranad
case, which resulted from a revolt by agricultural workers against a landlord. Bhasi had to write the play under the name, Soman. Ningalenne Communistakki was first staged (under the banner of KPAC
) in Chavara
in Kollam district
on December 6, 1952. The drama helped KPAC to become a force to reckon with on Kerala’s theatrical arena.Later,he wrote scripts for 110 malayalam films starting from 'Mudiyanaya Puthran' in 1961,most of them mega hits.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and his play Ningalenne Communistakki
Ningalenne Communistakki
Ningalenne Communistakki is a Malayalam socio-political play by Kerala People's Arts Club . This was the second and most popular stage play of KPAC...
(You Made Me a Communist) is considered to be a groundbreaking event in the history of Malayalam theatre.
Thoppil Bhasi was born in Vallikunnam, a small village in Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. It was formed as Alleppey District on August 17, 1957. The name of the district was officially changed to Alappuzha in 1990. The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories. Most of...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India. He was associated with the communist movements that took place in Kerala during 1940s and 1950s. He wrote the play "Ningalenne Communistakki" while in hiding in connection with the Sooranad
Sooranad
Sooranad or Sooranadu is a village located in the northern part of Kollam district in Kerala, India. Sooranad North and Sooranad South are collectively known as Sooranad....
case, which resulted from a revolt by agricultural workers against a landlord. Bhasi had to write the play under the name, Soman. Ningalenne Communistakki was first staged (under the banner of KPAC
Kerala People's Arts Club
Kerala People's Arts Club is a theatre movement in Kerala, India. It was formed in the 1950s by a group of individuals having close ties with Left-wing politics parties of Kerala. This political theatre was very influential in propagating communist ideas in Kerala.In 1951 KPAC staged its first...
) in Chavara
Chavara
Chavara is approximately 14 km north of Kollam City on the Kollam-Alappuzha highway in India. Tonnes of mineral sand, mainly titanium, are exported from Chavara to various countries. The Kovilthottam port is situated within the limits of Chavara Panchayat.Kovilthottam is a strip of land ...
in Kollam district
Kollam district
-Climate:Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around...
on December 6, 1952. The drama helped KPAC to become a force to reckon with on Kerala’s theatrical arena.Later,he wrote scripts for 110 malayalam films starting from 'Mudiyanaya Puthran' in 1961,most of them mega hits.
Selected books
- Ningalenne Communistakki: a drama which has influenced the politics of Kerala.
- Thulabharam and many screen plays.
- Olivile Ormmakal: give light to the life of many communists who are not known outside.