Author: Immanuel Joseph

Guru-sishya, Chiranjeevi, Adayaalam, vaitthiyam/thozhil, mooligai, etc.

So full of hidden and explicit meanings!

The failure of education to enlighten – wisdom vs. knowledge –> ignorance

So happy to be able to get engaged with the arts, in my own vernacular at last!
Many thanks to The Hindu for promoting local culture(s)

Comparing the insights of this play with the truths of Christian theology is very exciting.
E.g. The eschatological judgment of the various social classes – the poor/victims are vindicated with everlasting life and the middle/upper class which was complicit in the sustaining and promoting of dehumanizing systems are condemned to be born as goats (to be butchered) in their next generation.

The transformation of the goat to man, and the man to goat, is a central metaphor for understanding the play as a whole.

Sage ~ Messiah ~ Lamb-Man!

The Hindu Theatre Fest

Slowly but surely sucks you in, and before you know it, the sucker punch is delivered!

Is something like childhood friendship powerful enough to challenge and even overcome entrenched evils like caste?!

The ending is both tragic and comic – tragicomedy
The mother commits suicide, but KP is “adopted” by Ahmed (& family)…
Conservative relationships
Vs.
Radical partnerships

Now, do you understand the meaning of the title?
The hero (Karuppannasamy) is the one who hastens progress (through his incredulous faith in the new friendship), therefore moving ahead of his time (or place in the line)…!

What made Ahmed, who was initially hostile to KP, become his true friend??

The acting was outstanding. It is not dazzling or gripping, but subtle and powerful

The Hindu Theatre Fest