It is said that the Mahabharatha has an instance of just about every modern day
sin. Man only gets more creative, and the evil ones even more so, so we really
do not know how much this will continue to hold - what's gonna be the Mahabharatha's
answer to, say, cyber-stalking? But here's a very old one - sexual harassment.
In the memory of the great thespian and film artist, the late S V Ranga Rao, the Sri Veenapani Kala Peetham is organizing a Kuchipudi dance ballet titled 'Keechaka Vadha' on his anniversary. Pasumarti Venkateshwara Sharma will present this dance recital, and this is his 175th program. Sharma is the disciple of Vempati Chinnasatyam, a renowned Kuchipudi dancer who carved a laurel-filled niche for himself internationally as a guru.
Sharma, an experienced dancer, will present 'Keechaka Vadha' along with his troupe. The play is a true story that happened when the Pandavas were in exile and find placement in Virata's kingdom. King Virata's wife appoints Draupadi (known as Sairandhri here) as her maid, and Bhima joins the royal kitchen as a cook.
One day, the queen's brother Keechaka sees Draupadi in her sister's chamber and fall for her charms. He keeps persisting that she marry him. She does not heed to his threats, and requests him to stay away from her as she is married. In spite of her pleas, Keechaka don't desist, and continues to harass her. As a lost resort, Draupadi narrates the story to Bhima. Bhima hatches a plot and kills Keechaka. And hence the name Keechaka Vadha (kill).
Please contact Veena Pani Sharma at 98491-62399 / 9624-360445 (pager) for further
details.