A new Tamil play on idol theft
The HinduManikam Achari, a sthapathi known for his expertise in sculpting bronze icons is entrusted with the job of restoring a 1,000-year-old Nataraja icon, belonging to the Chola era, in Rajanallur village. Drawing references from the famous case of the stolen Nataraja idol, the subsequent legal battle, and the significant testimony provided by well-known archeologist and scholar R. Nagaswamy, playwright Sujatha Vijayaraghavan woven an engaging narrative, bringing alive the emotions behind this story. Seamlessly woven scenes Raja Mansingh as Manickam Achari portrays the many shades of the character with conviction. The seventh century Saivite saint Appar’s description of the enigmatic smile of Shiva, as visualised in the bronze figurine, has inspired the title of the play.
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