Alienation Techniques in VayalaVasudevan Pillai’s Vishwadarshanam

Abstract

In Vishwadarshanam, people are waiting for the creation of a society based on equality, after smashing one built on slavishness, immorality and injustice. It is then that a sculptor comes to fulfill the long-cherished dream of the helpless people. The characters like Adhikari, Dhanapathi and Madanan shoot arrows at the sculptor. They try to subdue him with arrows of wealth, lust and power. At last, he succumbs to the temptation of lust. In this play, VayalaVasudevan Pillai employs the technique of alienation to alert the spectator from emotional identification.  The movements and gestures of the characters and the action taking place on the stage are all to enhance the effect of alienation. Vasudevan Pillai seems to correct the impression that a play is not merely verbal acting, by giving importance to characters allusive gestures and movements. Vasudevan Pillai’s purpose is to enable the spectator to adopt a critical attitude towards the represented behavior of the play’s characters.