Limited artistes strive to protect theatre arts

Warangal District Rangasthala Kalakarula Ikyavedika is conducting 'Ninth Invitation Drama Competitions' marking World Theatre Day on March 27 James Edwin Warangal: At a place and time where people are not so fascinated about 'Theatre Art', a group of artistes here is striving to protect the theatre dealing with all the odds. The artistes associated with various associations in Warangal district are also making serious efforts to overcome the onslaught from electronic media and cinema to prove their existence. The artistes are also bringing accolades to Warangal by winning prestigious 'Nandi Awards' and various other awards in theatre art. There are about 5000 artistes across the district and about 50 associations of drama artistes and three active 'Kala Parishats' that annually conduct 'theatre festivals', informed 'Nandi Award' winning artistes Samala Laxman Rao and B Sridhar Swamy. In the recent past, the district bagged six Nandi awards in different categories, besides several other awards and this proves the dedication and ability of the artistes here, they averred. All this they are doing on their own and because of their sheer commitment to the art. "There is no government support to the stage artistes and sadly there is no auditorium for the dedicated use of stage artistes here" they said. In 2006 the former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation stone for the construction of an auditorium with an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore and since then nothing moved, informed Laxman Rao. An auditorium proposed at Karimabad in Warangal by the support of Warangal Municipal Corporation, KUDA and private donors but it remained unfinished, he added. Given the population of tri-cities of Warangal-Hanamkonda Kazipet there should be at least three auditoriums here, said a veteran theatre writer, director and actor, Sandi Raja Reddy.