Financial security and male insecurities on one stage

A contemporary Telugu play 'Purushasooktham' written and directed by popular anchor and critically acclaimed actor Jhansi was staged.

She also played one of the lead roles in a two- actor play that had the film and now stage actor Vamsee Changanti in the male lead.

The play showcased toxic masculinity and feminity, which is deep-rooted in social conditioning affecting relationships, lending to gender stereotyping.

The play focused on core emotional issues between genders with the hope to start a nuanced discussion on masculinity and raise pertinent questions.

The play spoke of the masculine and feminine energies and the importance of harmony between them. It posed pertinent questions like - Can we unlearn gender roles? And if we do, what happens?

A Kathanika production, 'Purushasooktam' explored complex relationship issues using simple narrative, symbolic props and engaging script peppered with sarcasm and humour.

The stage craft and props – use of an emotional well and a shell for female and male, an ego ladder that the male lead chooses to climb etc, the background music lending the right intensity and depth to the drama, the dialogues, all added up to present a play that made the audience take notice and think.

In short, the directorial debut of Jhansi is an impactful one that ended on a poetic note – the powerful lines are written by actor, writer Uttej.

The audience included director K Viswanath, Krishna Vamsi, Mallesham director Raj, Raj Kandukuri, dialogue writer Paruchuri Gopalakrishna, Tanikella Bharani were among the audience.

The event conceptualised by Million Moms founder Mani Pavitra, her husband, entrepreneur Pradeep Yarlagadda also included a panel discussion on 'Financial Literacy for Mothers'.

On the panel discussing the importance and the lack of financial literacy in women were Dr Surendra Kumar Joshi, chief secretary, Govt of Telangana; Kalpana Behara, head of Digitisation, Program Management Uber; Mamtha Nalla Reddy from Times Group and actor Genelia Deshmukh.

"It is not easy to earn money. We struggle a lot. We sacrifice a lot. Women must not only know how to manage their hard-earned money, they must also take charge of it" said Genelia, who had come all the way from Mumbai to participate in the event.

"Besides the husband in the family, if the wife is also financially literate, it will be collective wisdom. Two minds are better than one. So that the family can wisely invest.

Whatever I earned as an actor; I have invested very smartly. Now that I stopped working for the past eight years, I am reaping the rich benefits of my investments.

My parents taught me to handle finances and my husband also respects that", she shared.

Earlier welcoming the 300 plus gathering, Dr Mani Pavitra, said, this year focus would be on financial literacy for mothers.