Rasaranjani featured Vamsee Niranjan Kala Kendram's production Edi Sampada last week at Thyagaraya Ganasabha over two days. Writer-director-actor B.P. Prasada Rao brought home to the audience the well known fact that money has no role to play, when it is the question of bringing up children imparting cultural and traditional values.
Children's loyalty to their parents was the real gain, not the riches, the play asserted. The contrast was brought into play keeping a big-moneyed industrialist called PRK (B.P. Prasada Rao) as the central figure.
As the play opens, we see a physically challenged person being moved on a chair by his trustworthy lieutenant Punyakoti (Appalaswamy). This industrialist, a widower, starts narrating his craze for money. He never focused on the growth of his two sons Vijay (Venkat Govada) and Rajendra (Ramu).
The play then shifts into a flashback of his life. As part of it, we see Vijay, employed in his office, is never there, whiling away his time as a vagabond.
Rajendra too toes the same line. They go haywire and surrender to vices. His father first demotes Vijay from his company's office job and later even withdraws him from office responsibilities. Irate Vijay demands separation and a share in the property. The elder feels disheartened and leaves a will with paltry sum to his sons. The sons go to court pleading their father is insane and mentally disturbed.
The case is defeated as two psychiatrists, appointed by the judge Sugunabhushan Rao (G. Yadagiri Rao) confirm PRK's sound mental health.
Yet unable to withstand the attack of his sons, the father commits suicide, but returns as his 'atma' (soul) to watch over happenings that take place later.
All the artistes were seasoned actors and gave impressive performances. V.S.R. Sarma and Sundara Rao played psychiatrists. The play was written and directed by B.P. Prasada Rao and his portrayal of the main role, both as the father and the soul after his death was interesting. C.V. Sastry and artistes in doctors' roles also impressed.
