Telugu students shine on global stage

The International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) is a world’s leading theatre research organisation which has been created for the theatre research worldwide. Every year, world’s leading theatre experts, researchers, scholars, and professors participate and presents their papers and share ideas in the conference. It is an annual conference, and for this year, nearly 500 participants come from all over the world.

This year from the Telugu states, three students Kondal Reddy (PhD scholar, Telugu University), SailuPattepu(PhD scholar, University of Hyderabad) and Guntheti Naveen (PhD scholar, University of Hyderabad) selected for the IFTR-July 2017 to share their research ideas, thoughts and way of methodology within the global context.

Speaking with The Hans India, the trio shared their experience. In the theatre festival, Kondal Reddy submitted his papers on ‘Shylock in a female body, an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice as Reth-the song of sand’. “My presentation was an analysis of ‘Reth: The song of sand’, a contemporary folkloric adaptation of the Merchant of Venice, that explores the politics of adaptations and translations in contemporary India, of what has come to be associated with a post-colonial legacy.

In this play, shylock has been re-interpreted as women and interesting amalgamation of a women’s beautiful nature and revengeful shylock creates an increasingly tense theme,” said Kondal Reddy. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to share research ideas, thoughts and way of methodology within various research scholars and professors,”adds Kondal Reddy.

Another research scholar, Guntheti Naveen submitted his work on the topic ‘Adopting Traditional Acting Technique into Contemporary Actor Practice’. Speaking about his presentation Naveen says “I learned many techniques of theatre in the festival through other scholars and professors.

My work addresses on how in a devised performance an actor’s body can be made receptive towards stimulus provided by the interplay of other bodies in a space within a given context.”

Pattepu Sailu submitted his research papers on the topic ‘The Intercultural Legacy of Moharram (Peerla Panduga): A ritual performance of Telangana’.“I’m happy to participate in the IFTR-17. I also participated in this festival last year.

I shared my thoughts and ideas with various research scholars and professors and learned many things about theatre. I hope these type of festivals helps the development in the theatre field,” said Pattepu Sailu.

Sailu was awarded the prestigious IFTR bursaries 2017 the amount of 1285 euros for his work, and he is one of the very few who got this award from India.