Chennai: Dramas play an important role in our society. They not just entertain the masses but also enlighten them.

One such play, ‘Virus’ by dramatist Muthukumar, a long-time resident of Vivekanandapuram First Street in West Mambalam, one won top prizes at the Kartik Fine Arts’ Kodai Nataka Vizha recently.

The play focuses on those who prefer to settle down in countries like America.

Speaking about the play, Muthukumar says, “The story is about a non-resident Indian in America who establishes a centre to preserve and spread Indian culture to third generation Indians. He handles three types of people there.”

“He helps out an aged woman to recover sale proceeds of house from her own son, who enticed and cheated her to sell the ancestral property. In the second instant, he transforms an unwilling father who hates NRIs and America. Lastly, he encounters an atheist girl in that ‘country’.”

On naming the play ‘Virus’, he says, “I highlighted three viruses – parents showering blind affection on their wards who settled down abroad, secondly about a few elders forming wrong opinion about overseas and third is that several Indians fall prey to Western values.”

“All these are quite dangerous and may lead to disintegration of families. Hence I named the play Virus.”

Besides penning the story and dialogues, Muthukumar has also directed the play. Muthukumar, on behalf of Mayurapriya, has staged seven plays including like Vivahamalai.com, Dharmaspathiri (which had also bagged prizes at various festivals).

“I am thankful to my Ganapathy Sankar, who acts in my plays. He also produces them unmindful of the cost just to bring good plays to the audience,” he adds. Muthukumar is also an office-bearer of Vivekanandapuram First Street Residents Welfare Association.

Muthukumar can be reached at 94444 60935.