The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Playing the role of Krishna with elan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Playing the role of Krishna with elan

Tarangini Sriraman

Rajalalitha, 72, from Khammam district, who stepped on to the stage as a schoolgirl, has played the role of Lord Krishna more than 100 times!

HYDERABAD: Stellar performances by NTR and ANR as mythological greats have lit up the silver screen over the decades. However, there are some lesser-known artistes too who have rendered performances with matching panache, that too in the even more challenging medium of theatre.

Seventytwo-year-old Rajalalitha from Khammam district, who stepped onto the stage as a schoolgirl and is still active, is one such artiste. She has played the role of Lord Krishna more than 100 times!

"I like doing mythological plays, mostly musical in nature, because I can recite the verses myself and do not need any music in the background. Those full-throated verses come laced with a myriad emotions and poetry. Verses are an integral part of mythological plays and are on the lips of old-timers even today," the septuagenarian with a passion for lyrical verses says.

Elements of mythologicals

Her plays are constructed around well-known and not so well-known scenes involving Krishna. Both `Sri Krishna Rayabaram' and `Sri Krishna Tulabharam' are plays in which she has acted several times. The elements of mythological drama, she says, are mainly scholarship in language, fluent dialogue-delivery and good make-up. "I did male roles at a time when men increasingly filled in for women. If men could act like women, why can't we, I thought," she says.

Ms. Rajalalitha says it is enthusiasm and an almost obstinate determination not to lose her voice that drives her to keep acting even at this age. She still practises at least thrice a week with other actors. "I also like acting in plays in other languages. I learnt Tamil songs, taking adequate care to perfect the pronunciation," she says.

Historical roles

Other historical roles Ms Rajalalitha has played include Savithri, Mohini, Prataparudra and Nala. She has won many awards for her acting, including the Akhila Bharati Sahiti Samskrutika Samstha's Kannamba award and the State award for her acting in the play `Vishakumbalu.' Rajalalitha, a founder-member of the `Sri Lalita Sangeeta Natya Kala Parishattu,' will don the greasepaint at Sundarayya Kala Bhavan for one more staging of `Sri Krishna Rayabaram' next month.

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