Anyone who saw either the Musical play ‘Sreenadhudu’ or the Gayopakhayanam scene at the Chinmaya Mission recently needs no further recommendation from me; for those who did not, what can I say? You have missed a golden opportunity to experience one of the masterpieces of 20th-century Telugu poetry in a staging that realized all its raw power and richness.

Telugu Association of Greater Boston ( TAGB) need to be applauded for their effort and endeavor to bring this highly acclaimed musical to Telugu Culture lovers. If the audience at the play were not in large numbers, it is their loss. As Ranjan Vadlapatla, President of TAGB admitted. “I urge and make a plea to all the Telugus in New England to be more responsive and appreciative of such events. Shows as fine as these are a rare treat and the artists will also feel happy when they come to Boston. I hope that in future we see greater participation from every Telugu in this part of New England. It is only then that we can sustain and run these associations”. Ravi Pattisam, TAGB Executive Committee member, patiently setting up the audio visual equipment commented, “This is a wonderful opportunity. The artists’ came only late last night from New York and are very enthusiastic. I hope the audience will respond to that” Dr Jyothi Sammeta, an active TAGB Executive member volunteered information about the play by distributing attractive brochures brought by the artists.

The biggest surprise of the day was the opening scene where lo, behold we had two local artists sharing the stage with the seasoned actors. These were none other than Ravi Pattisam and Dr Suryanarayana Jayanthi who rose up to the occasion and did a fine job with their impromptu roles.

Brought by the Vishwa Shanthi Cultural Association in India, the musical troupe is traveling to many states in the US.

Written and directed by the talented Akella Venkatsuryanarayana, popularly known as Akella,he brings a first-rate musical direction to the production. With Sreenadhudu, he has become a trendsetter for Padyanatakam. Behind the stage, waiting for the artists to be dressed in their costumes, Writer Akella sits down for a small chat, “My plays are very popular because they can be understood by the common man", he argues. "I throw a challenge to my audience that after witnessing my play they can come to me and tell me otherwise. The audience reaction is universal.” A writer for about seventy films which includes Swatimuthyam and Shrutilayulu, he is also the winner of various Nandi Awards and the Sahitya Academy Award for his play Kaki Engili.

Sreenathudu is a good, solid production, with fine singing from all the principal characters, and a spellbinding performance by the protagonist in the story. The sets and costumes are typical of a stage setting and the music is spectacularly intense and in some respects, in fact, positively enhanced. One very refreshing aspect about seeing this musical play is that on can understand everything that is going on the stage.

The cast for this play is superb. Sri Gummadi Gopalakrishna, an ace theatre personality in AP has surpassed himself in this performance. Resplendent in cream, blue and gold as the 14th century poet Sreenadhudu, he acts the lead role with charm and power, and sings superbly, in a strong beautiful voice. B.H. PadmaPriya, a research scholar of Central University is equally fine as his gentle, loving and supportive wife. The gallery of cameos is just as well drawn, with Dr K.V.S. Chari nearly stopping the show as the Tamil Telugu poet. The rest of the cast includes G.S. N. Sastry, a veteran of Telugu Stage, Basani Marreddy, an experienced actor and director, Dr G.B. Ramakrishna Sastry, an actor, academician and administrator, Sammeta Gandhi, actor and writer and Malladi Gopala Krishna, makeup artist. T. RajaBabu conducting is alive to every color and every imaginative image in the score. The keyboard plays wonderfully for him and the music is well coordinated.

Audience reaction to the play.

Bhaskar Reddy “ It is sad to see that Art is losing support. I thoroughly enjoyed the play/
Sai Naresh “ I have been always fascinated by the poet Sreenadha himself so this is was a wonderful opportunity.
Shaila “ The play was superb of course. The only other comment that I would like to make is the attitude of some of the audience. It was too distracting. A play of this nature requires total attention”
Synopsis of the Musical Play Sreenadha – submitted by Vanka Krishna Mohan Rao

Poet, Sreenadha flourished in the 14th Century in the court of a small Vassal King by name Kondaveeti Vema Reddy near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. Prior to him, Telugu poetry was pedantic and difficult to understand by the common man. He may therefore be taken as a harbinger of modern Telugu poetry. During his lifetime he became a celebrity and received patronage from many admirers. He traveled far and wide within Andhra to establish his own supremacy over others in poetry. He caused the metallic kettle drum of a rival Asthana poet broken by defeating him in a controversy. So popular was he that was crowned as an emperor and given the title 'KaviSarvabhowma' in poetry by anointing him in gold coins. Sreenadha’s sagacious diplomacy in the politics of the day immensely benefited his patron ruler. He enjoyed a life of opulence and extravagance but had to face poverty, misery and physical torture during his last days.

He was a contemporary of the legendary Bommera Pottana(near present day Warangal in Andhra Pradesh)who wrote the immortal epic Bhagavatam in Telugu.

|

---

You may also access this article through our web-site http://www.lokvani.com/