Fall and fall of a woman
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The play `Chillarakottu Chittemma', staged by four different groups, was a moving enactment.
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Social drama A scene from `Chillarakottu Chittemma'.
The long forgotten play of the late Dasam Gopalakrishna, Chillarakottu Chittemma, was staged at Ravindra Bharati recently. This idea of giving a single play to four theatre groups to perform, at single venue on different days, provided opportunity for each group to display their own talent. It was a novel idea appreciated by all. The participating teams were Sarada Kalamandir of Palakollu in West Godavari; Savitri Kalamandir of Kothapatnam in Prakasam; Gowridevi Natya Kala Mandali of Moolapeta and Abhinaya Nritya Bharathi of Eluru. All are accomplished troupes specialising in such plays. Gopalakrisha had scripted it in 1958, reflecting the then social conditions. The play has an assortment of characters from different walks of life, including a eunuch. Five of them hover around the title character Chittemma, a woman earning her living by running a grocery shop.
Gory climax
How these persons try to take advantage of her husband being a vagabond and drunkard is depicted. Her husband is a sadist too. Everybody wants to get close to her, including one Dattudu, a young man, who pities her for being the wife of a drunkard. Each one of these "Romeos", including cloth and bangle sellers, try to impress Chittemma by either offering her gifts or pampering her with praise. But she succeeds in keeping them at bay, addressing every one as anna (brother). But her suspicious husband finally murders Chittemma. There were a number of other scenes too that moved the audience.
Gudipoodi Srihari
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