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76-Year-Old Theatre Legend Recalls 7,100+ Shows
8 Jun
Summary
- S Ve Shekher began his stage career at the young age of 10.
- His troupe, Natakhapriya, has staged over 7,100 shows.
- Shekher aims to retire at his peak, like his mentor Cho Ramaswamy.
S Ve Shekher, at 76, continues to share his passion for theatre, reflecting on a remarkable six-decade journey. His career began at the tender age of 10, performing in his father's drama troupe before honing his skills under V Gopalakrishnan.
His collaboration with Crazy Mohan on 'Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam' and Visu's 'One More Exorcist' marked significant turning points, establishing comedy as his troupe Natakhapriya's identity with a motto of '100 minutes, 200 laughs'. The troupe has since staged over 7,100 shows across 24 original productions.
Shekher founded Natakhapriya in 1973 aboard a ship with R Sundararaman, with an initial contribution from members including Kamal Haasan. He deliberately used his film popularity to promote his plays, never abandoning the stage.
Inspired by his mentor Cho Ramaswamy, Shekher intends to retire from theatre at his peak. He attributes his comedic timing to observing Nagesh, with whom he worked closely for a radio program. His favorite plays include 'Athirshtakaaran' and 'Yamirukka Bayamen'.
