Thampi Antony: Keeping alive the Malayali roots
Cochin Herald|January - February 2021
In a tete-a-tete with the multi-faceted Thampi Antony, Fred Cochin revives umpteen memories of their association, his acting, writing experiences and life in the US
Deepika Jayaram
Thampi Antony: Keeping alive the Malayali roots

The moment Fred starts talking to his good friend and actor-writer Thampi Antony, one can experience a splurge of nostalgia, warmth, mutual appreciation and friendship, transcending all boundaries.

As they exchange smiles, it radiates the positive relation that they share. Thampi says he first met Fred during one of the theatrical adaptations of Malayalam plays, in which he used to actively take part in the US. He remembers how ‘Freddie’, as he calls him, had an inevitable presence in most of the performances there.

Fred talks about how he had given Thampi and his friends in the acting group, a book named Ningalk Shakunthalam Mathi, for an adaptation. “The book written by K Azeez from Fort Kochi is a comedy and revolves around how various people from different corners of Kerala give their own twist to Malayalam language. It goes on to highlight how this leads to a lot of comic situations.”

Fred says, “The play became a super hit in San Francisco. That was when we forged a friendship, which has lasted for so long.” They indulge in banter, trying to remember the characters they essayed in the theatrical adaptation of the play.

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