Maya Bazaar - A Telugu Drama By Surabhi

You've watched this one a zillion times. One more time, then, won't make a difference. Actually, it will - for, Maya Bazaar lightens you up every time.

Shilparamam, in association with Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali (Surabhi Group), is organising a 9-day Surabhi Drama Festival, from 21st to 29th April. Today, the last day, a famous Telugu mythological drama called Maya Bazaar will be staged.

Maya Bazaar, also called Sasirekha Parinayam, is based on the celebrated episode in the Mahabharata in which Arjuna's son Abhimanyu falls in love with Balarama's daughter Sasirekha. Balarama is against the marriage as Abhimanyu doesn't have any kingdom to inherit, and moreover since his father is in exile.

Krishna advises Abhimanyu to approach Bheema's son Ghatotkacha for help. Ghatotkacha, with his magical powers, transforms himself into Sasirekha, and starts staying in the kingdom as the original goes romancing Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu in due course marries Sasirekha with Krishna's blessings. Unaware of all this, Balarama arranges his daughter's marriage with Duryodhana's son. But the bride appears as a ghost to the groom, and he runs away in fear. Angered by this, Balarama vows to kill Abhimanyu, but Krishna intervenes and pacifies him.

The veteran artistes of the Surabhi group R Dasaradhi Rao, R Bhoja Raju and V Venkata Rao will present this evergreen mythological drama with complete sets, sounds and special effects.

Surabhi is the oldest theater group in India, started sometime in the 1890s by Vanarasa Govind Rao who had three sons and ten daughters. As the size of the family expanded, several sub-groups were formed, one such being Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali.

Initially there were 50 companies, which dwindled to 16 in 1974 and only 4 in 1982. Currently, there are 5 functioning across Andhra Pradesh, all under the umbrella of Surabhi Nataka Kala Sangam. Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali, the biggest of them all, was set up in 1937. Today, their troupe has 62 members.

For further details, please contact the venue at 2310-0455.