Classic revisited
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Gurajada Appa Rao's classic `Kanyasulkam' continues to enthral audience in its new 26 episode tele-serial format.
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EPIC TALE A social satire that continues to be relevant.
Even after more than 100 years of its existence and thousands of performances by different theatre groups across the globe, Gurajada Appa Rao's classic drama Kanyasulkam continues to attract people from all walks of life.
Set during the British Raj the play deals with the custom of marrying off girls to men who paid the highest bride price (Kanyasulkam). What better medium of educating the largely illiterate people than drama, in which the characters spoke the language of the masses. The play has had shown to full houses since the first show in 1892. Chennai-based Kalatapasvi Creations undertook the task of producing the drama in its totality. The shooting of the 26-episode tele-serial was recently completed and will be telecast on MAA TV from December 4, said the presenter of the serial, Malladi Sachidananda Murthy.
"We have shot the serial close to the original drama's setting, in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry. It was shot in some of the picturesque locales," said Murthy. The story revolves round a nine-year-old girl, who is offered by her father Agnihotra Avadhanalu to the 60-year-old Lubdhaavadhanulu for a kanyasulkam of Rs.1, 800.
Despite his wife's protest, Agnihotra goes ahead with the marriage plan. His brother-in-law Karataka Sastry teaches Lubdhaavadhanulu a lesson."Originally, the play was over seven hours, and in our serial not even a single word is added or deleted from the original,"observed Murthy.
Gurajada wrote the play about contemporary social issues at around the same time Ibson and Shaw were writing similar plays.In the serial, veteran actor Gollapudi Maruti Rao plays the role of Girisham whose role has become immortal with the famous dialogue, Damn it! Katha addam thirigindi. Role of Madhuravani is played by Jayalalitha while Pisapati Narayana Murthy acts as Lubdaavadhanulu.
S.P. Balasubramanyam lends his mellifluous voice for the title song, set to tune by Madhavapeddi Suresh. Camera by Vamsi, while Raavi Kondal Rao wielded the megaphone for this mega classic.
JAYARAJ MANEPALLI
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