The saga of the Marudhu brothers on stage

Marudhiruvar, conceived and directed by dancer-choreographer Madurai R. Muralidharan, comes alive on stage

In the late 1700s, when resistance to the East India Company was building up, there arose two brothers — Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu — in Sivagangai. The strapping brothers aced guerilla warfare and helped queen Velu Nachiar regain her kingdom after her husband’s demise. Known devotees of Shiva, the brothers were executed in 1801, but not before they instilled the fire of freedom in many. Even now, in Tamil Nadu’s Southern belt, stories of the brothers are part of everyday lore. 

Now, the tale of the Marudhu brothers heads to the stage as Marudhiruvar, conceived and directed by dancer-choreographer Madurai R Muralidharan. This is an ensemble production  featuring more than 50 dancers, with animation playing an important role in taking the audience back in time.

Muralidaran, known for his productions such as Sakuntalam, Silappadikaram and Vayuputra, says that he grew up hearing about the Marudhu brothers and Velu Nachiar and always wanted to delve deep into their stories. “I want today’s children to know that we had such people in our land,” he says.

The production draws from history, and among the dance styles to be featured are flamenco, Bharatanatyam and Kathak. The music is a mix of Carnatic, Hindustani and folk. The title track has been played by the Budapest Orchestra. Muralidharan has worked with the Orchestra earlier for his production Sakuntalam. “Working with them only proves time and again that music has no barriers. Keyboard player Balaji Gopinath helped with the English notations and we sent them to Budapest. We waited three months for half an hour of their time. They were so perfect, they took just 20 minutes to record the song, with no rehearsals. I enjoy such cross-border collaborations.”

The ensemble features more than 50 dancers. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Why did Muralidharan turn to history this time around? “I’ve done 28 productions, and most of them have been on deities or characters from literature. Some, like the Silappadikaram and Sivagamiyin Sabadham required a working knowledge of history. But, I am also aware that our history books don’t teach us much about regional leaders who stood tall in their defiance. And hence, the focus on the Marudhu brothers.”