Mythological plays come into limelight once again

Peddemul: Mythological dramas, once a great source of entertainment in villages, have gradually waned with the advent of films, TV and other entertainment avenues. Ever-changing technology is bringing entertainment to individuals with sophisticated electronic gadgets. Even most popular entertainment segments like films are now facing hard times due to invasion of Internet viz., live-streaming programmes.

However, drama is also moving along with times and adapting itself to stay relevant. It is fast adopting new shape and the modern format has been slowly catching up. Street plays also have become popular now-a-days.

In the age of cinema and internet, one can hardly imagine that people will watch 'poetic dramas' these days. But, to the contrary, the response that the new plays have been receiving is quite encouraging and heart-warming. Some mythological plays have adopted technology platform and are being patronized in mandal headquarters of Peddemul. The mythological dramas are played during evenings in the summer. Some important scenes from epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are taken as main plots for these dramas.

Surprisingly, these plays are enacted by local farmers. Some enthusiast farmers from Peddemul mandal practiced, 'Sri Bhakta Markandeya Mahatyam' for six months. They started performing the play with help of music instruments like harmonium, flute, tabala etc. from 9 pm to 5 am.

The drama, as it used to be in the past, is once again attracting the old and the youth alike, and breathing a leash of life into the dying art which regaled generation after generation before the advent of cinema in this country. The shows are drawing huge crowds. The relatives of the farmers in neighbouring villages are also turning up for the shows, bringing a festive mood to the villages.

The stage and the surroundings are also illuminated, and the vibrant sound is creating different atmosphere in the village. The trainer Avva Balappa said that the entire programme costs around Rs 1 lakh. He thanked youth and villagers for making the programme a grand success.