It is good to say ‘grow old gracefully’ but being dependent on others more often than not forms a harsh and bitter experience for the elderly. Parents in the evening of their lives love to find expression of filial responsibility in assistance with household tasks, continuance of personal contact and affection and emotional support. But lack of it on any count makes the life in old age an unbearable curse that plays havoc with lives. Picking it up for its thread, social play-let Jeevana Vedam sought to harp on the importance of filial responsibility.
The plot revolves around vicissitudes in the life of doting father Raghavayya who was left with no option but to give up bondages and lead life aloof in the company of undertaker in a cemetery. The character holds an intense emotive quotient with a facet of firm personality. However, it is not without its Achilles’ heel in terms of soft corner for his off spring, though they remain perpetually errant and badly behaved.
Powerful dialogues and good histrionics, the performance drove its point straight home.
Artistes of Mandulu Memorial Arts, Visakhapatnam staged the play-let Pitruvanam (God’s acre) with verve. It was based on a real-life incident in Visakhapatnam, where an ungrateful son had left his infirm and ailing octogenarian mother in the burial ground after sundown. With this incident as the backdrop, renowned thespian and playwright Dhavala Sanyasirao wove a gripping family plot keeping father at the receiving end. Stellar performances by the team aided by hard-hitting dialogues kept the audience glued to seats.
Raghavayya, a retired teacher is a man of principles. His son and son-in-law who was responsible for the death of his elder daughter through domestic violence, pester him to no end for money. Unable to stand their rude behaviour, he suffers silently but he gets paralytic stroke and becomes bed-ridden. Both son and son-in-law take him and leave him at cemetery in the dead of a night. Undertaker there takes care of Raghavayya and sees the latter recovers well. On coming to know that Raghavayya deposited his retirement benefits with his loyal student, both son and son-in-law rush to graveyard and attempt to bring him back home but he refuses to oblige. The duo demands him to give his money. The undertaker sternly warns the duo to keep away. Refusing to go back home, Raghavayya gives his money for the construction of basic facilities and good upkeep of the cemetery. K Satya Prasad, who directed it, displayed remarkable histrionic talent in the portrayal of protagonist Raghavayya.
Mandulu Memorial Arts as part of 14th anniversary celebrations hosted it at Kalabharati.
