An epic tale

`Sasirekha Parinayam' was staged as a well-executed drama.

SRI SAI Kala Niketan, a well-established dramatic body serving the cause of poetic drama, staged `Sasirekha Parinayam' (Mayabazaar), last week in Premasamajam Hall. Scripted by Kanvasri, it was well-directed by the doyen of the theatre and winner of many a laurel, including the Nandi Award, B. V. A. Naidu. The story depicts how Ghatotkacha (son of Bhima and Hidimbi), with the help of Lord Krishna, fulfils the ambition of Sasirekha to get married to Abhimanyu, much against the wishes of her father Balarama who had actually fixed her marriage with Lakshmana Kumara, son of Duryodhana. There was good teamwork between all artistes on and off the stage, besides the symbolic effectuation of the superhuman powers of Ghatotkacha, like carrying Sasirekha along with the bed on which she was sleeping to his ashram and other effects. The drama turned out to be an absorbingly entertaining production. Director Naidu, himself as Ghatotkacha, and his brother Bagadi Vijaya Saaradhias Krishna, stole the show with their display of excellent histrionic talent.

Others in the cast - B. A. Naidu as Sakuni, A. V. Raghavan as Balarama, D. Jagga Rao as Duryodhana, B. Vijayasai as Abhimanyu, T. Rami Naidu as Lakshmana Kumara, S. Dhanalakshmi as Sasirekha, B. Iswaramma as Revathi and Hidimbi and G. Vidyavathi as Subhadra - also put up a fine performance. A. Satyanarayana, Bapu Naidu, L. Joga Rao and A. S. Gopalakrishna in the minor roles also gave good support.

Support on harmonium by V. Srinivas, keyboard by R. Satyanarayana, tabla by Noorsaheb, make-up by D.V.N.R. Naidu, stage decor, lighting and coordination by M.A. Naidu, K.V.R. Murthy, R.K. Raju, N. Simhadri and Choudary Apparao also contributed to the performance.

Earlier in the evening, veteran costume designer B. Apparao was felicitated by the guests of honour who included Rajeswari Sankaran (former Telugu professor, Utkal and Delhi Universities), Datla Srihari Raju (former principal of Government Degree College and chief advisor of the Niketan).

The chief guest for the evening was R.V.V.N.J. Raju, senior executive of M/s. Vijaya Nirman, which sponsored the programme.

A.R.S.

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