Padamati Gali draws good response

Ongole: At times, when the theatre is lacking an audience, the NTR Kala Parishad in Ongole puts a ticket to watch famous ‘Padamati Gali’ play in the ongoing theatre fest. Surprisingly, the tickets are sold like hotcakes and officials and VIPs are demanding reservation of seats.

‘Padamati Gali’ is a drama that runs for about four-and-a-half hour, with 60 artistes acting in about 13 scenes. The story of drama revolves around land, how it is being dragged out from hands of farmers in the name of fancy terms.

The drama is played for more than 120 plus times with packed audience at various places known for professional drama premiere. The NTR Kala Parishad, which started its journey at the same stage with Padamati Gali, about 20 years ago is starting professional drama play with the same one. The organisers are making arrangements to play ‘Padamati Gali’ at the ongoing drama fest at PVR Boys High School Grounds on February 2 and 3, for the 122 and 123rd time.

Speaking to The Hans India on this occasion, the writer and director of drama Patibandla Anandarao feels that the Telugu theatre was suffering from a severe shortage of professional artistes. He observed that money and professionalism were proportionate and explained that as the theatre was not providing much money to the artistes, the amateur actors are not taking it as a profession.

At the same time, he agrees that if there were a number of Telugu theatre professionals like they were in Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, and Manipur the audience in Telugu states also prefer theatre to the cinema, as they enjoy the live performances. He said if the government could encourage theatre art with the necessary infrastructure, the experts in the technique, stage crafts, music, and lighting can do wonders.

About Padamati Gali being played even in different countries, Anandarao said that within the first 20 minutes, the viewer identifies him and people known to him with a number of characters moving live in front of him. He claimed that the drama changed the perception of the audience in one or other way about theatre and that is why they get repeated audience wherever they play it.

Edara Haribabu, Prakasam Zilla Parishad Chairman and president of the NTR Kala Parishad said that they wanted to make theatre also an option as a profession in Telugu states. He said that they have chosen’ Padamati Gali’ just because to give an experience to audience that their money was not wasted.