Chocolate Krishna....

Have you imagined what would God do if He needs a break? Or how His vacation would be? Well, look no further. Head to the nearest place where "Chocolate Krishna" is played to get to know more about it. Chocolate Krishna, a humorous play by Crazy Creations' Mohan is where I spent New Year's Day with my family. This is the second time in five years that I am watching it. Apparently the play has been performed over 700+ times so far. 

The plot revolves around Madhu, a salesperson for chocolates & his family. Madhu, a worshipper of Lord Krishna, prays for his job promotion. And on Gokulashtami, The Lord Himself arrives (enacted by Crazy Mohan) to Madhu's home. Krishna is depicted as a human being with many wives (Bama, Rukmani, Meera - who all end up calling Madhu to talk with Krishna) and Krishna says he is on vacation taking a break from all of them. 

The first half of the play moves swiftly with witty dialogues delivered promptly. Here is a conversation between Madhu and one of Krishna's wives Rukmani over phone - 

மாது       : கிருஷ்ணா, ருக்மணி கூப்பிடறா... என்ன சொல்லட்டும்?

கிருஷ்ணா: நான் இல்லை-னு சொல்லிடு. 

மாது       : நீ இல்லை-னா அது நாத்திகம் ஆய்டாதோ? 

கிருஷ்ணா: அப்போ, நான் ஆத்துல இல்லை-னு சொல்லிடு. ஆத்திகம் ஆய்டும். 

Madhu attending phone call from Rukmani :) 

Plot then moves on to Madhu's father a struggling flute player for whom Krishna gets a chance in a musical concert, helps Madhu get his promotion and there by leading to the most funniest part of the play, the TV interview scene. You have to be there to really enjoy it. It is very difficult to write it down. Even social topics like food adulteration are told in a humorous way, where Krishna faints while eating stale butter sold at a store. Excerpt from the play - 

மாது        : கிருஷ்ணா consciousness பாத்து இருக்கேன். இப்போ தான் கிருஷ்ணா  unconsciousness பாக்கறேன்.  

கிருஷ்ணா : நான் எப்பவுமே வெண்ணைக்கு தான் மயங்கிருக்கேன். ஆனா, வெண்ணெய் என்ன மயக்கடிச்சது இது தான் first time. 

மாது        : அப்போ நீ குழந்தை. இப்போ நீ adult. இப்போ வெண்ணெய் also  adulterated. அதான் மயங்கிட்டாய். 

கிருஷ்ணா : மாது, உன் wife கையால காபி குடிச்சா சரியா போய்டும். 

மாது        : ஐயையோ!! என் wife-ஓட காபி குடிச்ச, கோபால கிருஷ்ணனா இருக்கற நீ coma-கிருஷ்ணணா ஆய்டுவ. 

The audience roared with laughter at each and every scene. 

When Krishna says Madhu's 80-year old grandmother could have been one of the dancers in the court of Dhridhirashtra, Madhu innocently asks how can his not-good-looking grandmother could have danced for a king? And Krishna replies wittily, "திருதிரஷ்டிரர்-க்கு தான் கண்ணு தெரியாதே பா..." 

Cool Duo :) 

The whole play is full of jokes with perfect timings, punches at the right moment, wonderful actors who bring the characters alive on stage and kept us laughing for 1.5 hours. It ends on a note where Krishna asks Madhu not to just believe in Him, but also to believe in himself and lead his life.

Personally, I felt the drama unfolded neatly and all of us in the auditorium laughed our hearts out. Money well spent. I wish more of such dramas find its way back to popularity again. I intend on checking out Y.Gee. Mahendran's and S.V. Sekar's dramas if possible. If anyone know of such events in Chennai, please do leave a comment.