Maya Bazaar, Aahaa!
17 Sep 2009 8 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: BV Karanth, mahabharata, Maya Bazaar, Ravindra kalakshetra, telugu, Theatre
If you have watched the 1940s make – Maya Bazaar in Kannada, Tamil, or even better, Telugu, you will enjoy this Telugu play Maya Bazaar immensely. It is exactly like the movie not only as far the script is concerned but the visual effects, costumes, music and the melodramatisation are astoundingly the same, not similar, mind you.
This two hour long mythological drama directed by Nageshwar Rao was performed by the troupe Surabhi, at Ravindra Kalakshetra, on 16th September 2009, the second day of the National Theatre festival – Bandano Banda Sawara, BV Karantha, to celebrate the 80th birth anniversary of Padmasri BV Karanth. The play narrates the love story of Balarama’s daughter Seshirekha and his sister Subhadra’s son, Abhimanyu. While Balarama is keen to marry off his daughter to his nephew Abhimanyu, his wife, under the influence of Narada plans to marry her daughter to Duryodhana’s son Lakshman Kumar. Pressurized by his wife, he rejects the proposal. The rest of the story is about Abhimanyu conquering love with the help of his demon cousin Ghatodgaja, who uses his magical prowess. The USP of the play is creating maya on the stage – employing the limited elements of lighting, music, water and tons of creative impulse, on the part of the director. The whole set up reminds you of company nataka of yesteryears, when actors donned gawdy clothes and make up, songs were sung by the actors themselves, and were inserted in betweeen dialogues and back drops of realistic images were used to recreate the scenes. That, however did not mean the stage was not utilized fully. The vivid ways in which all parts of the stage were used to the fullest leaves you in sheer amazement. Also, the agility with which sets were changed at the snap of a finger keeps you thinking – Now, just how?
What leaves you jumping right out of your seats, clapping your hands gleefully, with your jaw dropping like it weighed a ton is, the fight between Ghatodgaja and Abhimanyu, where arrows literally spat fire on being fired and bombs actually blasted on being hurled. Also, like you were watching a war scene in Ramayana , the two opposing arrows were actually fighting tooth to tooth until the superior one burst into the other one, making the audience wonder if there was power transmittor had given way, in the auditorium! Also, when Abhimanyu shoots an arrow into the sky, it starts raining, yes water starts showering, to douse the fire. You can’t help but blink and pinch yourself, gasping at how you are witness to these wonders in real, god damn real life, with actors performing, literally creating magic. Seshirekha being lifted from her bedroom when asleep, to Ghatodgaja’s cave leaves you wondering if you are actually watching a movie that has used special effects. And, delicacies promptly leaping into Ghatodgaja’s mouth in the kitchen simply leaves you helpless in disbelief.
The repertory, Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali(Surabhi) was established in 1937 at Jimidipeta village of Srikakulam District. Since 72 years, the repertory has been staging plays. This troupe underwent training under Padmashree BV Karanth in 1997, ‘98 and ’99. Comprising 65 members of the same family ranging from a six month old baby to a 65 year old, this repertory is a huge hit in Andhra Pradesh.
They say..