Jandhyala Papayya Sastry, popularly known as Karunasri, left an indelible mark on Telugu literature especially with his umpteen verses that that he left in his ‘Karurnasri'.
This was one reason he acquired his pen name, for playing up the emotion of ‘Karuna' or compassion. Kunti Vilapam attained great popularity along with other moving verses in his works like Vijayasri and Udayasri , because of Ghantasala rendering select verses Kunti Vilapam in his private records which are preserved by many.
Noted Kuchipudi dancer Usha Gayatri brought out Kunti Vilapam into dance form and KarunasriKunti Vilapam presented it last week at Thyagaraya Ganasabha, marking the centenary celebrations of the poet.
This programme was organised by Kinnera Arts theatre. The dance programme was backed by scenic arrangement attuned to the theme. The narration harps on Kunti's own mental agony before and after she gives birth to her son, Karna.
These thematic verses describe how Kunthi, an unwed girl, experimented with a boon she earns from sage Durvasa to give birth to a child as and when she desires.
The story of Kunti is a challenge for any artiste to interpret in a dance form. Usha Gayatri reflected the feeling of agony and repentance with involvement.
For the purpose of drama, she had two other girls as attendants featured in the preliminary parts to depict her as a happy-go-lucky girl stepping out of her palace into gardens, playing with them followed by the sage's arrival and preaching her a mantra that begets a child.
All these moments were backed by the verses with the same import describing her every movement. From the introduction of Kunti to the abandoning of the infant, the verses were perfectly spaced to allow intermittent drama.
Saratchandra, who specialised in rendition style of Ghantasala, presented them. Satvikabhinayam by Usha dominated the emotional part of drama.
No wonder this theme and presentation left the artiste, too, in tears. This being the centenary year of Karunasri Jandhyala Papayya Sastry, the vice chancellor of Telugu University, Anumandla Bhumiah was chosen to receive Karunasri Sahiti Puraskaram that was presented by former chief minister K. Rosaiah, the chief guest.
