The three-day annual Telugu comedy playlet competitions, organised jointly by Sumadhura Kala Niketan and Mummaneni Subba Rao Siddhartha Kala Peetam, began at Siddhartha Academy amidst peals of laughter. The playlet fest is staged for the first time at academy auditorium as Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram, the usual venue, is under renovation.
The inaugural day witnessed three playlets from Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Srikakulam showcasing their theatrical nuances. “ Telu Kuttina Dongalu ” by Geetanjali Theatre Arts (Vijayawada), “ Dawat’ (Pop Corn Theatre, Hyderabad) and Vetakandi Baboi Vetakandi (Mithra Cultural Association, Srikakulam) which were well received by the audience.
The day also saw Senagala Kabir Das memorial award accorded to cine director Vidyasagar in the presence of city luminaries M.C. Das, honorary adviser, SKN; S. Narasraju, President, SKN; Nalluri Venkateswarlu, President, Siddhartha Academy; K.S. Ramachandra Rao, President, Aqua Devils Welfare Association; D. Vema Reddy, stage artiste; S.V.D Subba Rao of Prakash Arts; Devineni Kishore Kumar, chairman, Nagarjuna Educational Institutes; and film actor Kota Sarma.
Earlier cultural festival was kick-started with a welcome dance by city troupe led by Ajay Kumar.
