Social issues got reflected in the festival of drama competitions. Kalabharathi witnessed a four-day festival of drama competitions recently.
As a rule, Kalabharathi invites drama troupes from all over the state. Out of more than 100 entries received along with the scripts of the plays, eight were selected.
Two plays were staged on each evening of the four days. Inaugurated by GITAM University Chancellor, M.V.V.S. Murthy, the fete got off to a good start with the staging of Aaushmanbhava scripted by Bhavaniprasad and directed by J. Ramana for Natyanjali, Hyderabad. It depicted how senseless are the ever increasing events of suicide.
The cast comprised Surabhi Prabhavathi (who won best actress award), Sudhakar, Haribabu, Sarathkumar and Varaprasad . The second play Raithante scripted and directed by Bhoopathi Dharma Rao for Gurumitra Kalasamithi, Repalle, sought to highlight the present day trend of selling away of agricultural lands as house sites.
M. Raja Rao, Dharma Rao, Prabhavati, Guravayya, Mohan and Master Kumar constituted the cast. Gayatri, D/o. Basheer Ahmeda , scripted by S.K. Khaja Bhasha and directed by P. Gopikrishna for Forever Art Theatre, Suryaraopet, was effectively a sensible analysis of the connotation of religion.
It won the third best production, best script and best anti-hero awards . Hanumantha Rao, Padmapriya, Tanmaya, Sai, Mallesh, Gopinath, Mustafa and Anitha constituted the cast.
Guppeta Theru , staged next, was scripted by Y. Saibaba and directed by G. Bhaskar Rao. . Bhaskara Rao, Ramana, Rameshbabu, Chiranjeevi Rao, Srirama, Sujatha and Hanibala were in the cast. Next to follow was Aham Brahma, which won the awards for best makeup, stage décor, character actor, director and the second best production. Naranarayanam, a family drama, scripted and directed by M.V. Ramana for The Young Men's Happy Club, Kakinada, won the award for best comedy actor but otherwise failed to impress. Yevaro Vasthaarani, scripted and directed by Cherukuri Sambasiva Rao for Ushodaya Kalanikethan was staged on the fourth day. The play turned out to be an enlightened analysis of the insuperable prowess with which human beings are born and hence are capable of making or marring their own life. Winning the best music and best actor prizes, the play made it to the top position and also got the best production award.
