Vision:

  • To enhance student’ creative growth, collaboration and community engagement.

Mission:

  • To acquire the passion of performing arts by exploring their artistic talent.
  • To gain knowledge of the theatrical art through practicality.

Objectives:  

  • To understand the significance of interpersonal skills through collaborative activity.
  • To foster a sense of motivation, team spirit and self-confidence.

Outcomes:

  • To explore the nuances of theatre – the ideas of unity, equality and harmony.
  • To develop students creative thinking and social awareness.

Name of Staff Members: 

  • Ms. G. Thilakavathy, (Vice President) Assistant Professor, Department of English, (Aided)
  • Mrs. S. Sasi, (Staff Coordinator) Assistant Professor, Department of English, (Aided)

Name of Student Coordinator:

  • VAISHALI. G – B.A ENGLISH
Activities 2024-25

Reminiscence @ Theatre

Report :

The invited talk on “Reminiscence @ Theatre” was organised by the Theatre Club of SDNB Vaishnav College of Women, on 27th December 2024, in Seminar Hall 2. The session was led by Ms. Sanjana A, an alumna of the Department of English, who had completed her training with the Prakriti Foundation in the Theatre Festival Short n’ Sweet South India 2024 (A Theatre Festival, a Cultural and Arts community-building exercise), handling over 50 theatre shows, from the Backstage.

The session started with a brief interaction with the students, asking about their idea of a theatre. With the given ideas, she gave her definition of theatre – “Theatre is a medium which helps explore and learn about oneself, it is an experience which differs from person to person and usually cannot be defined under a spectrum”. This laid the base that all the information one can give on an art form will almost always be personal and dynamic, and can never really fit under one perspective.

Further on, Theatre was mainly categorized into two kinds – Traditional and Modern. The differences and similarities between them were discussed and outlined – such as the stage settings, actors, genres, performances and so on with an emphasis on the regional, cultural and community-oriented aspects. The idea that anything and everything can be a stage and a performance was a novel insight to the audience.

The talk proceeded to delve into the types of theatrical significance (Social, emotional, psychological, educational, and personal) and how even the costumes, lighting, and sounds played a major role in creating that significance. All these significances create an impact and shape society by providing a unique perspective that was unthought-of prior.

The speaker shared her experience to help the students understand the significance of theatre and make it relatable by making them connect notions with movies. The session ended with a brief question and answer part where she expatiated on the festival of Short n’ Sweet and listed out some more shows like this. She also relayed how the occupation of the person doesn’t matter – they are an actor once they are on stage.

Documentary Screening – Colours of Kollywood : Melanin Deficiency

Report :

The screening of the short film Colours of Kollywood: Melanin Deficiency was organized by the Theatre Club of SDNB Vaishnav College for Women on 31st December 2024 in Seminar Hall 1. The event began with a brief introductory discussion of what a documentary is and how this documentary has been taken in its interview type. They also talked about the skin tone of South Indians particularly Tamilians (dusky, brown, wheatish, etc) and gave an overview for the students on what to expect from the film i.e., how the idea of skin tone has been socialised and portrayed in the cinematic world.

The short film sheds light on the deeply rooted issue of colourism in Tamil cinema. It examines how Kollywood has consistently glorified fair skin while sidelining or stereotyping those with darker complexions. Through a gripping combo of authentic footage, interviews, and subtle narrative techniques, the film unfolds the cultural bias that has shaped casting choices, character portrayals, and even audience expectations over decades.

The documentary explores how fair-skinned actors have historically been the preferred choice for lead roles – another colonialism side-effect, but even now only fair-skinned actresses are cast as they are stereotypically symbolized with beauty, success, and virtue. While actors with darker skin tones are either typecast into secondary or villainous roles or ignored altogether. The short film highlights how cinema perpetuates these biases, further embedding them into the social mindset.

Moreover, the film delves into the psychological and emotional toll this has on individuals, particularly young viewers, who consume these portrayals as societal ideals. It also questions the industry’s responsibility to represent diversity accurately and suggests a need for a paradigm shift where inclusivity is celebrated rather than just merely verbally promoted. It calls for a redefinition of beauty in Kollywood, one that aligns with the rich diversity of its audience and stories.

At the end of the screening, there was an interactive discussion on the views of the students regarding the short film. Using filters for taking photos, a common practice among most youth was referred to and delivered how one is accountable only for themselves, that they don’t need to prove their beauty to anyone else. Acceptance of oneself, the knowledge that inner beauty, character and education are what’s most important and the realisation that change should start from within, are the concluding messages from the event.

Interdepartmental competitions

A workshop, a guest lecture and interdepartmental competitions were conducted in the academic year 2023-24.