Sashirekha Parinayam - A Telugu Stage Drama: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR SASHIREKHA PARINAYAM - A...

There's never a wrong place, time or manner to watch Maya Bazaar one more time. So here's where you should be heading tonite.

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 13th day of celebrations, Sasirekha Parinayam is being staged today.

Sasirekha Parinayam is a derivative of the Mahabharata, and has been made famous by the classic Telugu film Maya Bazar. During the days of exile of the Pandavas, Arjuna sends one of his wives, Subhadra, and son Abhimanyu to Dwaraka, where two of her elder brothers, Krishna and Balarama, reign. Sasirekha is Balarama's daughter and has been in love with Abhimanyu since childhood, and their parents too approve of this.

As soon as Sasirekha attains the age for marriage, Balarama and his wife want their daughter to be married to Duryodhana's son Laxmana Kumar, as Abhimanyu's father, Arjuna, has lost his kingdom, and Duryodhana is Balarama's disciple. But Sasireka, Krishna and Subhadra oppose this change of plan.

Krishna asks Subhadra to approach Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhima who possessed the magical powers of the asuras, for help, which Ghatotkacha readily offers. So Ghatotkacha goes to the marriage venue and disguises himself as Sasirekha, while the real Sasireka elopes to the place where Abhimanyu and company are camping.

When Laxmana Kumar approaches Ghatotkacha, mistaking her for Sasirekha, he gets the shock of his life, as it is a demon. Towards the end, Ghatotkacha displays his magic and power to drive Duryodhana and his evil-minded kinsmen back to Hastinapura (Duryodhana's capital).

The mythological play is being directed by Jamuna Rayulu and presented by Surabhila Natya Kala Mandali, Ranga Reddy.

Kinnera Art Theatres was started in 1977, and has since organised various programs, including musical nites, classical dances, vocals, felicitations and releases of books. It has served as a platform for many upcoming artistes, and at the same time provided the necessary recognition and appreciation for the 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.