Baagu Baagu - A Comedy Play By Kalavani: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR BAAGU BAAGU - A...

Care for some East Godavari and West Godavari dialect? Rasaranjini is bringing in a 100% native group on stage tonite. With the emphasis being on that culture, too. Avakai, anyone?

Rasaranjini, as part of its ongoing Comedy Plays Festival from 4th to 9th November, is staging a play called Baagu Baagu today. Baagu Baagu was written by Bhamidipati Kameswara Rao in 1929, and is about the traditional lives of the Telugu-speaking population during the freedom struggle era. It makes fun of some silly practices prevalent in those days.

The play is directed by M Prasad Murthy and presented by Kalavani of the East and West Godavari districts. M Prasad Murthy, M Ramesh Babu, M V Rajarshi, Chinna abu, K V V Ramana Murthy and Sujata play the principal characters of the play.

Kalavani was started at Rajahmundry, East Godavari district, in 1972, with the staging of its famous play, Varudu Kaavali. Since then, it has presented more than 50 plays like Chivariki Migilindi, Sureedu, Sati, Mithunam, Raghupati Raghava Rajaram, Swetapatram, Nenu Maraninchanu, Amarajeevi and Vaitalikudu, and has grown to a total of seven branches in Rajahmundry, Athreyapuram, Amalapuram, Rangampeta, Yanam, Annavarappadu and Kakinada of both the Godavari districts of AP. It has won innumerable awards for its plays.

Rasaranjini was established in March 1993, with a staging of the famous play Kanya Sulkam. During these 13 years since its inception, it has staged about 1,900 plays. It stages a play every month at Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha, to promote this neglected form.

The association not only stages its own productions, it also gets groups from outside and pays for their staging. It also trains in acting and mime. K V Ramana, IAS, is its president. Most of the members are renowned theater personalities.

The entry to the play is by tickets of Rs. 10 only, available at the venue. For further details, please contact D Someshwara Rao at 94401-42266.