LOOKING FOR MURUGA AND SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN THEATRE

Abstract

Looking for Muruga is an astonishing play authored by Kriben Pillai depicting South African Indian reality during the Apartheid regime. The drama looks to be a narrative tale of many issues related to the Indian community. Almost all the tales are told by a central character named Muruga. He is a barman and an entertainer who keeps his customers happy. One such customer comes back to him in an effort to write a story about the barman’s life after many years. The conversation between the barman and the customer, Sherwin, constitute the central action of the play. Their discussion also draws in the 1949 Durban riots between the Indian and the native black communities and unhappy memories related to that event. There are also references in the play about freedom from Apartheid and the possible position and role of the Indian community in free South Africa. The play has symbolic relation to Lord Muruga. It also refers to the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela and the possible tomorrow. In that sense, the play looks like a discussion on the past, the present and the future of South Africa and the position of Indian community in South Africa.