Colourful start to open theatre fete

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 26. With the performance of the thought provoking energetic street play, ``Halla Bol'' by the East Godavari troupe of the Andhra Praja Natya Mandali, the five-day Safdhar Hashmi Open Theatre (SHOT) - 2000 got off to a colourful start here on Tuesday at the Key's Girls High School.

The play, originally performed in Hindi by Safdhar Hashmi's `Jana Natya Manch', was slightly improvised and staged in Telugu before Mrs. Moloyashree Hashmi and an appreciative audience. It told the tale of the toiling workers and the problems they face when fighting for their rights.

The Labour Minister, Mr. C. Krishna Yadav, who was the chief guest, felt that street plays performed with a social message would go a long way in enlightening the common people, especially the youth and the workers. Mrs. Hashmi, speaking very briefly, said she was very happy to be amidst the gathering.

``Since you perform throughout the year, I don't think there is any need to formally inaugurate SHOT,'' she remarked. Mr. M. Jaggaraju, president, Andhra Praja Natya Mandali, gave an overview of the functioning of the theatre troupe and how it had been in the forefront in propagating the message of the toiling masses.

SHOT, which was being organised for the last two years, had served as a forum for expressing solidarity with the workers. Mr. M. Nagabhushana Sharma, former Dean of the Theatre Arts Department of Osmania University, spoke about his fond association with Andhra Praja Natya Mandali. More than 20 plays are to be performed at the venue during evening time at the venue till December 30.

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Section  : Southern States
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