‘Ramappa’ a well-conceived play

Vijayawada: Natakulam Telugu Velugu, cultural organisation, started its cultural journey with 4-day national drama festival in Andhra Pradesh with the support of Andhra Pradesh Creative and Culture Commission at Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College on Monday. 

Noted theater exponent Dr Kotla Hanumantha Rao, presented the historical play ‘Ramappa,’ which describes the history of Ramappa Temple located near Warangal in Telangana State.

Ramappa Temple was situated in the ancient capital of the Kakatiya dynasty and it was built by chiefs of soldiers Recherla Rudra and Jayapa Senani during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva. 

The temple is a Shivalaya and also beautiful sculptures in the temple. These are the inspiration for ‘Perini Natyam’. History says that it took 40 years to build this temple.

Hanumantha Rao should be appreciated for choosing this subject for staging because it involves elaborate technical inputs. 

He started the play with folk and tried to maintain the pace till end. The director also aptly used the a popular song ‘Ee Nallani Rallalo’ with different tune. 

All the characters did well but some of them need to improve their modulation. It needs to be taken care regarding projection and lighting.

Hanumantha Rao as Chandrabhushan, Sunayana as Nagi and Santosh as Jayapa Senani did well. This play was penned by literary legend Dr C Narayana Reddy and directed by Kotla Hanumantha Rao.

It seems the organisers are more interested in meeting part than the drama because the meeting went up to 8 pm. 

The speakers and the president of the meeting should have kept the next programme in mind while conducting the proceedings. 

Golla Narayana Rao, Kota Sankara Rao, Chinta Venkateswarlu, D Sankara Rao were in the meeting. 

Theater personality and Parishad organiser Nootalapati Sambaiah was presented the life time achievement award by the organisers.