Gayopakhyanam - A Telugu Stage Drama: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR GAYOPAKHYANAM - A TELUGU...

There is no troupe enacting mythologicals, that has not produced this play. And there are very few people who have not watched it even once. Hopefully that doesn't include you.

On the occasion of its 29th anniversary, Kinnera Art Theatres is organising 29 days of Telugu stage dramas from different parts of the state, at Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha, from 9th November to 7th December. As part of the 25th day of celebrations, Gayopakhyanam is being staged today.

The drama is about the battle between Lord Krishna and Arjuna over a Gandharva king named Gaya, who moving across the skies and spat, without his knowledge, into the open palms of Sri Krishna, praying to the sun god standing in the waters of a river below.

An irate Krishna vows to kill him. He learns later that the Gandharva king is a great devotee of Krishna. Yet, he cannot take back his vow. Narada advises Gaya to approach Arjuna and first seek his assurance of protecting him and only then reveal the person out to take his life. The king does the same, and after taking Arjuna's promise to protect him, reveals that Krishna is the one out to kill him.

Arjuna is crestfallen, but yet sticks to his vow. On the day of the battle, both Krishna and Arjuna exchange hard words, and, later on, weapons. Due to the impact of the powerful weapons used during the course of battle, the destruction of the world seems apparent. Just then, Lord Shiva appears before them and wards off the possible disaster, explaining that it was a test for Arjuna, that comes to use in the impending Mahabharata war.

Gayopakhyanam was written 80 years ago by Chilakamarthi Lakshminarasimham Panthulu, and has the privilege of being the largest-selling book till date. There is no troupe enacting mythologicals, that has not produced the play. The drama is being directed tonite by Bandaru Nagabhushan Rao, and presented by Sri Sharada Goureshwara Natya Mandali of Vizianagaram.

Kinnera Art Theatres was started in 1977, and has since organised various programs, including musical nites, classical dances and vocals, felicitations and releases of books. It has served as a platform for many upcoming artistes, and has at the same time provided recognition and appreciation for established ones. Dr R Prabhakar Rao, IPS, is the chairman of the association, while M Raghuram is its dedicated secretary.

Please contact M Raghuram of Kinnera Art Theatres at 98660-57777 for further details.