In Memory of Raju

One of the greatest inventions in the drama business in Madras during this time happened due to the arrival of transparent colour paper (gel paper) in the market. There was no electricity in Kombur village, but every house had one or two Petromax (kerosine) lamps. Someone got the bright idea to adorn these lamps with the multicolor gel paper to cast a colour light at night. Then, it became customary to use combinations of the colourful lamp-light to create some pretty rainbow effects upon the stage. It may not seem like much now, but during that time, this was so unusual and beautiful, that people would marvel at it. Many people came to see the drama only to witness the beauty of colour-paper lighting effects via kerosine lamp on the stage.