DRAMA
STILL GOING STRONG
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 The
State-sponsored week long Nandi Natakotsavam
2001 (Nandi Awards drama competition) at Ravindra
Bharathi is one of the best wittnessed programmes by Hyderabadis
in the recent times. The entire Ravindra Bharathi auditorium
was jam-packed althrough the week as many hyderabdis thronged
the venue to enjoy the dramas, plays and playlets that
were staged from morning to the late evening daily. Large
number of people patiently watched the plays and appreciated
the performances of the actors.
 According
to Maddali Janakinath, a veteran theatre artiste
(played a main role in the play Alasantha at Natakotsavam),
"the credit should be given to the AP State
Film, Television and Drama Development Corporation
for organising this 'Nandi Natakotsavam' for the third
successive year. The professional and financial encouragement
rendered by the corporation has given a fillip to the
drama activity and boosted the morale of the artistes.
With this support, we will continue to improve our performance
levels." Other artistes
and technicians who took part in the week long competition
also echoed similar views. "For an artiste, especially
from other part of the State, a mere clap is enough to
give the required inspiration. Money is nothing in front
of this," said Sanyasi Rao of Visakhapatnam.
 Almost
all the plays lived up to the the expectations of the
audience. The performance standards of all theatre groups
has taken the drama connoisseurs away from this world.
The plays delivered valuable messages about honesty, social
integration to the audiences. Apart from the plays that
received awards, 'Heccharika' written by R.
Sarada Devi and directed by S.K. Misro received
rare reviews. The play Corruption, written and
directed by Malla Rao received tremendous applause
from the audiences. The play highlighted the criminal-politician-bureaucrat
nexus which engulfed our society.
 "The
domination of cinema, will not dither the spirit of dramas
and plays" said Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu,
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on the last day of
the Natakotsavam. "The state government is sure
to help those who are serving the field of drama with
dedication." Later, he awarded the prestigious
Nandi awards for the meritorious performances.
In the division of 'Poetic dramas' 'Mahakavi Kalidasu'
received the Golden Nandi while 'Tirupathamma Katha'
won the Silver Nandi. In 'Social plays' division,
'Pratispandana' received the gold and 'Prema
 Saamrajyam'
got the silver. In playlets division, 'Melukolupu'
won the first prize whereas 'Varudu' received the
second prize. Palleti Lakshmi Kulasekhar (Srirama
Padukulu), M.P. Moorthy (Pratispandana),
C.S. Rao (Malli Eppudostharu) received Bronze
Nandis for the best writers award in three respective
divisions. The prestigious 'N.T.R Memorial Award' for
this year was presented to J. Siddappa Naidu who
was felicitated in a grand style by the Chief Minister.
Apart from these, 30 more Bronze Nandis were given to
the best individual performers. Film actor and Dada
Saheb Phalke awardee Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao,
Gnanapith awardee Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, Minister
for Home and Cinematography, T. Devendar Goud and
Minister for Information and Cultural affairs, N. Siva
Prasad were the prominent personalities present on
this occasion. |
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- Krishna Chaitanya Karanam
Photographs by: Srinivas Setty
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