With a view to reviving interest in Telugu theatre, a library of dramas, plays, and playlets has come into being in the city.
Rare ones
It has several well-known plays, manuscripts, and some periodicals on Telugu theatre. Among them are Gollapudi Maruti Rao's Oka Chettu-Rende Poolu first published in 1969 and priced Rs. 2 and a reprint of Punarjanma of Bellamkonda Ramdas (first published in 1955), manuscripts of Mr. Maruti Rao's Satyamgarillekkada , Modali Nagabhushana Sarma's Manmadhudu Malli Puttadu and Prajala Manishi , and Yendamuri Veerendranath's Gulakarallu-Gulabimullu . Some of the manuscripts have the director's notes on the dramatis personae, their characteristics, and set properties.
Besides offering an opportunity to go through the plays, the Rangasai Nataka Grandhalayam intends to take up visits to schools to enthuse children about plays and organise workshops with young directors.
The library was opened by founder-president of the Rangasai Nataka Sangham A.V.V.S. Murthy, known as ‘Badamgir' Sai, as an extension of the sangham, at Dondaparti.
“Contrary to public opinion, the interest in theatre in Visakhapatnam has been attracting attention from other parts of the State,” says Mr. Sai. Staging of plays with gate collections successfully from 2004 to 2012 is an indication. Kanyasulkam of Gurajada Appa Rao, Raktakanneeru and Surabhi plays have been performed some 60 to 70 times, he says.
Huge collection
Noted theatre personality Chatla Sriramulu, who is honorary president of the library, and D.S.N. Murthy, a retired faculty of Theatre Arts of University of Hyderabad, together contributed 300 of the 800 books in the library. Mr. Sriramulu himself contributed 30 manuscripts.
A collection of plays staged by noted actor S.K. Mishro under his Bahurupi Nataka Samakhya, plays of Viriyala Lakshmipathi, Sri Pandavodyogam and Mithailu playlets for children also find place among the collection.
Mr. Sai says he will go to schools to urge managements to spare children interested in dramas so that their talent could be nurtured. He will also urge the government to contribute to the library manuscripts received for the Nandi Natakotsavams every year. All the nataka parishads — there are as many as 129 — will be requested to contribute scripts.
The library works from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and closes on Sundays. It also offers to send copies of books it has to anyone interested or taking up research on payment of expenses.
