An evening to remember

Sometimes you have something special to write about, but you just can’t find the time to do it. This is precisely what happened to me and hence you may actually find this post a bit outdated, but this is something that I had to write about and hence writing.

The last week of December was spent quite valuably. Not because it was close to Christmas and new year and that’s when I decide about my new year resolution, but because I actually found myself going back to one particular landmark in Bangalore more than often.

The landmark that I am actually referring to is “Ranga Shankara” a theatre put together by Arundati Nag, the wife of Late Shri Shankar Nag. People familiar with Kannada cinema will be definitely proud of the two.

Coming back, the last week of December was culturally and socially the best I had spent in the year and I say so because I got to witness 2 of the most amazing plays of Indian theatre.

These 2 plays were actually in Telgue put together by Sri Venkateshwara Nataka Mandali (Surabhi) team which was bought down especially from Andra Pradesh courtesy Infosys foundation. This team is actually a family of 60 people that is carrying forward the tradition.

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Patala Bhiravi and Maya bazaar are the 2 amazing plays that I am talking about. The former has been made into a movie in many languages and is actually an Indian adaptation of Aladdin and the magic lamp. Maya bazaar is however a small story taken from the Mahabharata about the marriage between Shashirekha and Abhmanyu.

“Maya Bazaar” is a spectacular mythological play with lively music, imaginative scenery (including sets of hand painted curtains, wings and frills!), impressive lighting and innovative special effects that will leave an indelible impression on the audience.

A true celebration of the theatricality characteristic of Company Theatre, “Maya Bazaar” is run by members of the one family under a banner first established in 1885. To this day, Surabhi continues to tour Andhra Pradesh extensively, performing in pitched tents for months at a stretch.

This epic drama narrates the love story of Sashirekha, the daughter of Lord Krishna’’s elder brother, Balarama and Abhimanyu, his sister Subhadra’’s son. Central to the plot is the colourful character of Ghatodgaja who uses his magical powers and ingenuity to bring the lovers together in the face of opposition. The play is a must see for its innovative special effects on stage including the descent of Narada from the skies and flying ladoos that land in the mouth of the hungry Ghatotkacha!

Maya Bazaar tells a mythological tale from the epic Mahabharata. It is the story of the romance between Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu and Balarama’s daughter Sasirekha, and how they united against all odds with the help of Ghatotkacha, the demon son of Bhima, using his magic powers.

Best-known for its special effects, Maya Bazaar is unquestionably a treat for the eyes, with arrows flying on the stage causing a wall of fire, another brings down rain to put off the fire; a romantic song with real pigeons flying around and Narada descending from the clouds.

And that’s not all, when Ghatotkacha makes his appearance; the magic seems to begin all over again!

The 2 plays are stories of the bygone eras but the flavor of which is still amazing. I had seen of magic been created on screen using all the multimedia effects, but creating it on stage before a houseful audience was something I saw for the first time and I must say I was speechless.

Be it the dream sequence of the romantic song between the hero and the heroine or the magical fight between Gatokacha and Abhimanyu in Maya Bazaar or the magic slippers and magic carpet in Patala Bhairavi, it definitely left us all spell bound.

Such effects, such dramatization, such magic even puts Harry Potter to shame. I actually did hear one of the audience whispering that Lord of the rings was nothing when compared to the on- stage effects of Maya Bazaar.

People who missed this, I would say you definitely missed something very good. Do catch it when there is a repeat performance. AS far as I’m concerned I would say I am lucky that I got to watch such an amazing play.

Three cheers to Surabhi team!