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Taramati shines
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The play showed Golconda in the 18th century
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ON STAGE Rashmi Seth as Hayat Bakhshi Begum and Tarun Dhanrajgir as Abdullah. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
The Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah and Bhagmati love story is a staple of Hyderabad's unforgettable legends. On Monday evening, Hyderabadis got a sneak peek at the story of Taramati and Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah through the play, Taramati - the legend of an artist, staged by the Qadir Ali Baig Foundation. The historic Taramati Baradari, near the Golconda fort, came alive as the play unravelled.
The play, which lasted for a little more than an hour, showed select episodes from the past. So you are introduced to Hyderabad in the 1760s and 70s, when Hayat Bakhshi Begum signed an agreement with the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, which allowed him to post his administrators at Golconda. Nevertheless, she is concerned at the rising power of the Mughal Empire and Golconda losing its distinct identity.
It's in this situation that Taramati, the immensely talented artist, meets Abdullah Quli Qutub Shah. At first she despises Abdullah and considers him responsible for all that's wrong with the kingdom. But as is the case with all love stories, Taramati, who declines all invitations to the palace sent through Abdullah's concubine Premamati, relents as misconceptions are slowly shattered. With time, Abdullah makes his appreciation of Taramati's talent evident by constructing the Taramati Baradari. The latter half shows Hayat Bakhshi Begum's concern for Abdullah and the kingdom and the impact it has on the love story.
Through the evening, the breathtaking historic venue stole the show. Dr. M.S. Sathyu's makeshift stages and clever lighting definitely helped. Veteran actress Rashmi Seth as Hayat Bakshi Begum was easily the best of the actors. She made her crisp, short part seem like a cakewalk.
The play starts with a promise and wavers during the second half. With names like Mohammad Ali Baig (director), music (Kaarthik Ilayaraja) and Ashok Lal (research) coming together, it could have been much more than just a love story.
SANGEETHA DEVI. K
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