Page 304

A king and a courtesan

Two semi-historical plays show a depth of talent.



Taking centrestage (Left) A scene from Amarapali

Samaikya Bharati organised a two-day dance festival at Ravindra Bharati, last week, in collaboration with Department of Culture. Amukta Malyada staged by K. V. Satyanarayana and his disciples of Eluru and Amrapali of Maddali Gayatri and disciples were the latest offerings.

Amuktamalyada narrated the popular story of how and why Vijayanagara king, Krishna Devaraya, also a commendable poet in his own right, resorted to writing that work on Godadevi, a devotee of Lord Raganatha, who finally married Him. Krishnadevaraya happened to stay in the temple complex of Mahavishnu in Srikakulam.



Lakuma.

Mahavishnu appears in his dream and asks him to write this story. The emperor does the job and is called Amuktamalyada which is considered as literary masterpiece, even today. The theme ends with Goda Kalyanam. Satyanarayana played the role of Srikrishna Devaraya and Ch.Ajay Kumar was in the female role of Andal, that is Godadevi. Mandali Buddha Prasad, Minister for Animal Husbandry, who attended the festival, announced that he would arrange the staging of this ballet at Andhra Mah

Amrapali tells the story of a court dancer of king Bimbisara of Magadha. How Amrapali renounces this position and takes to Buddhism, forms the central theme. Usha Gayatri in the role of Buddha, Abhirami as Amrapali, Katyayani as Bimbisara, Sreya and Meghana in other important roles performed well sticking to Kuchipudi idiom. Suryanarayana Sastry gave good musical score. Gowthami Chowdary conducted the show with crisp Nattuvangam to vocal support by Bhanuprasad’s mringam support. Vocalists Srivalli Sarma and Sampath enriched the show. The other two ballets presented in the festival were Lakuma by Alekhya and her party and Andhra Natyam numbers by the disciples of Nataraja Ramakrishna.