Saga of Markandeya

A documentary film, ‘Kunapuli Patamkatha-The Story of Caste Genealogy’, directed by artist Aelay Laxman, was screened at the State Gallery of Art, Madhapur recently as a part of platinum jubilee celebrations of Hyderabad Arts Festival (HAF).

The documentary film started with an artist explaining the importance of the Markandeya Puranam. “Weaver’s community always narrates stories of Rishi Markhandeya. They feel it’s their honour. Their main aim is to protect their caste culture of storytelling. They took two days to narrate it.

I also belong to the same community and I know the pain they had. Telangana has many caste genealogies. This type of storytelling explains the culture and quality works of a particular caste. The film name ‘Kunapuli Patamkatha’ is derived from the many stories,” said Aelay Laxman. He also said that storytelling and singing songs are the first art forms of Telangana.

The 82-minute film explains about the incidents that happened in Rishi Markandeya’s life. “Mrikandu rishi and his wife Marudmati worshipped Lord Shiva and are blessed with a son. Lord Shiva gave them two choices - of either an intelligent son, but with a short life destined to die at the age of 16 or a child who with low intelligence but with a long life.

Rishi is chooses the first one and is blessed with Markandeya. He grew up and becomes great devotee of Lord Shiva. When at 16, the messengers of God of death Yama fail to take his life because of his great devotion towards Lord Shiva. Later Lord Shiva defeats God Yama in a battle and gives Markandeya a boon of a complete life.”

Earlier, the second day of Hyderabad Arts Festival also witnessed - Art demonstration and slide show by Rama Suresh, from Chennai, Art talk by Anand Gadapa and Nirmala, a film ‘Wind Speed’ screening by artist Babu Eshwar Prasad and live painting by artist, Siraj’.