Courageous Act by Anasuya Menon Paragraph Questions
Kannur University
Common Course
Readings on Kerala (1A02ENG)
1. How did Ayamu's play Ijju Nalloru
Manushyan Aavan Nokku get its name?
E K
Ayamu's play Ijju Nalloru
Manushyan Aavan Nokku is
Nilambur Ayisha's debut play. She was only 16 at that time. According to
Ayisha, a group of young and enthusiastic individuals used to come together to
discuss various themes on social change. Sometimes, these discussions ended
very late at night. During one of these sessions, Ayamu suggested they should
make a play on the issues plaguing the Muslim community. One of those gathered
on the occasion shouted at Ayamu "Aadyam Ijju Nalloru Manushyan Aavan
Nokku" ('why don't you try and become a good man first?'). Ayamu took this
as the title of his play.
2. How did Ayisha get a chance to play the role of
Jameela?
Before
Ayisha made her debut men used to play female roles in plays. E M S
Namboodiripad, who reviewed the play Ijju
Nalloru Manushyan Aavan Nokku suggested
that a woman should play the female lead. Ayisha recollected in her talk with
Anasuya Menon that she remembers that day clearly when Ayamu came to her home
with her brother. Ayisha was sitting on an easy chair and singing along with a
gramophone record. Ayamu asked Ayisha when he saw her why couldn't she act as
Jameela. She confesses that she knew nothing about acting. However, she had
loved singing and had a sense of rhythm.
3. What was the reaction of Ayisha's family to her
decision to act in the play?
Ayisha
came from a rich family in Nilambur. Her family had several servants and an
elephant. Ayisha's father and brother were interested in the arts. On every
evening, at 4 PM, after work, her father would order all servants to stop work.
They could display all their talents in front of everyone, including music,
dance, or acting. Ayisha's mother did not prefer this. She warned Ayisha or the
dire consequences from conservatives in the community who would exclude them
from society. However, Ayisha was firm in her artistic pursuit.
4. Give an account of various attacks that Ayisha had to
face while on stage?
Fundamentalists
followed Ayisha to hurt her and destroy her acting career. She was pelted
several times while on stage. Once she was taking part in the Bob Marley
Festival in Kochi. Someone hurled a stone at her. She was wounded between her
eyebrows. On another occasion, someone shot at her. She was performing in one
of KT Mohammed's plays in Manjeri. Ayisha narrowly escaped the attack. She was
saved by sheer luck. Another time, while performing at Mannarkad, a man from
the audience went up to her and slapped her. Ayisha lost her ability to hear in
one ear due to this incident.
5. How did Ayisha's family survive the tough times?
After her
father's death, Ayisha's family realized they were broke. During the same
period, orthodox sections of the Muslim community and fundamentalists started
creating problems, trying to disrupt her theatre activism. Poverty and hunger
became her reality. Those who were against her theatre activism forbade people
from helping her. Only a few good-hearted individuals like Kunhi Kuttan Thampan
of the royal family or Nilambur and Dr M Usman offered her refuge. Both of them
were social reformers and supported the arts. Actor Nilambur Balan advised
Ayisha to actively take part in theatre.
REF: Multiple Modernities, edited by Board of Editors, Kannur University, Cohin: Hornbill Publishing House, 2019. Print. 
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