Tani Illai

For three evenings in October, CRIPA was packed for Johnny and Jesse’s latest musical Tani Illai. Translated from Tamil as ‘no water’, that fluid theme coursed through the play, depicting a not too distant future scenario of empty wells.  Starring energetic children and merry teens, the kids acted and sang in between Johnny’s rhyming narration that emphasised the importance of water. 

Ecological messages were combined with a romantic plot, featuring a local village girl wishing to marry the lad of her dreams instead of one of the suitors her politically aspiring Appa (father) was lining her up with. Her true sweetheart Pardash, son of the lowly village well digger, despairs as to how he can compete with her wealthier and well fattened rivals. But a visit to the local oracle in the kolam (lake), combined with friends and sisterly support, births inspiration of bringing water back to the village tap. Instead of the medieval knight winning the maiden’s hand through valour, here the eco twist is that it is the man who can bring flowing water back who will be the victorious suitor.

Mixing a touch of gender politics with issues of water misuse and water’s value, the lively play turned a worthy (but potentially dull) subject into a fun educational night out.