Mariasadanam
psychosocial rehabilitation center
Art as Treatment and an Avenue for Rehabilitation
Art has a healing nature and the therapeutic power of art is well known. During one of the cultural programmes in Mariasadanam, Mr. Jackson who is a member of the centre, voluntarily came to sing a song and the responses of the other members were positive. All of them were inspired by his singing and observed that this vibrations motivated the residents to come out from their mental stress. The reaction of the residents gave birth to an idea of forming a professional art troupe later on which came into action.
Our first stage performance was in Alphonsa College auditorium Pala in the year 2002 with the valuable support of Sr. Liyoba FCC. Our singers were supported only by traditional instruments like tabala, harmonium and drum. One of the audience from our first perfomance suggested for a Ganamela in her parish Fatima Matha Church, Chettuthodu. After these two programmes, we had to face a long break which in fact a challenge that lead to brush up the troupe with modern musical instruments. we also regcognised that these art programmes are usefull in removing the stigma associated with mentally ill and also to prove that they are equally talented as normal beings.
A full-fledged professional orchestra is a unique feature of Mariasadanam. All the participants of this group are the residents of Mariasadanam who are maintained with the support of psycho-social interventions. There are 10 singers in the troupe out of which 3 are females . Kalasamiti was inagurated by famous cine-artist Mr. Jagathi Sreekumar in 2003 and Mariasadanam Creations was inagurated by cine-artist Mr. Mani C Kappen. Our team performed on more than 286 professional stages which are recognized in the Limca Book of Records as the first professional troupe consisting of only mentally challenged people in the world. The drama troupe staged 5 professional dramas and played on more than 167stages.
We used to performe skits, which later on formed as professional drama troupe. Mariasadanam drama troupe directed and staged dramas in different places. St.Paul, Snehathanal, Santhitheeram are some of the dramas of the troupe. Our residents acted in some tele- films also. These ventures paved the way for the psychological development of the residents. After the shooting of the tele-film 'Oru Sravana Sandhyayil', few complaints came up from the actress that ' i had only less dialogues', 'there was no close up shots for me' etc. Through this reactions, we would understood their deep interest and sportsman spirit in expressing their skills infront of others.
Rehabilitation In Reality.......
Mr. Jacob who was a tabalist in the troupe, got admitted to Mariasadanam in a pathetic condition and he improved himself with proper care and rehabilitation process based on art. He performed on different stages and came back to his life. After his stay in Mariasadanam, he had been brought back to his home by family members and now he is living happily with his own family.
Mrs. Elsamma was a widow who had been neglected by her family and she was under the treatment for mental illness since many years. She was argumentative and stubborn initially. Later on she started to co-operate with the rehabilitation process and handled a variety of roles in different dramas. This improvement changed the attitude of her family members towards her and they brought her back to home.
Ms. Ancy was a resident of Mariasadanam who made drastic changes in her life with the support of programmes based on art. Her days in Mariasadanam was a new chapter in her life and those days gave her a good opportunity to express her hidden talents in acting. This positive changes paved the way her to re-union with her family members.
Audio CD's and short films by inmates are the other main ventures. All the actors are the inmates of Mariasadanam. We do celebrate all the festival irrespective of caste and religion. These activities aim at improving the confidence and interactions of the inmates by bring them back to the mainstream of the society.
Mariasadanam Art troupe
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