Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu, born on May 7, 1921 in Nellore district, became well known by his Gotra name ‘Atreya.' He ruled the theatre world in the fifties and sixties and later in Telugu cinema as a script and lyric writer. He literally pioneered the social theatre, probing into society and families issues. Subtle humour marked his style. His enormous work in fifties and sixties in theatre continues to remain as a text book for others to follow. His journey in theatre continued till he entered cinema, where too he left his foot prints, untill his death in 1989. Rasaranjani staged his play Kappalu , last week at Thyagaraya Ganasabha with a plan to hold an ‘Atreya Festival' soon.
Kappalu with the Rasaranjani team was a moment to probe into Atreya's style of character presentation. The dialogue is incisive, thought provoking, short and sharp leaving no line to edit. They can only shorten the play, removing some scenes, which they appeared to have done on this occasion. The title is symbolic of the way relatives move around a person when they know he is very rich; like frogs occupying a water-filled tank. And they desert him when his wealth dissipates. Sripathi, a rich man (K. Nataraj) is the central figure whose wealth attracts relatives who flock around his house for different reasons. His sister Pankajamma (T. Srilakshmi) wants to get her son (an offstage character) married to his only daughter Kamala (S. Jyothi), being the sole heir to Sripathi's property. Her henpecked husband Sambasivam (C. Narayanaswamy), Bhadrayya (S. Kameswara Sarma), a match maker and relative also arrive. The only faithful man Sripati finds in the house is his aged servant Narayya. Kamala is already in love with Chalapati (M.Venkatakutumba Sarma). Sripati wants to test the credentials of all these persons. And he does it on his birthday, which forms a crucial scene in the drama. Chalapati's father Jaggayya (V. L. Narsingrao) also joins this celebration. Sripati presents to each of the members with packets of currency notes to their utter happiness. But on receiving a phone call, Sripati looks undone. To curious inmates he declares he is soon to be arrested in a counterfeit currency case. To add to this a police inspector Gopalam (Srimata Tulasi) arrives on the scene to arrest Sripati. That leaves all these selfish persons in jitters. They doubt the money Sripati handed to them.
The inspector demands them to leave the money back and get out of the house. Chalapati arrives then, but stands by Sripati, who then declares it was all his drama to test the selfish. He brings his daughter Kamala and lover Chalapati together.
K. Nataraj's performance, though good, had occasional awkward physical movements. Jyothi and Venkata Kutumba Sarma as lovers were adequate. Performances by Rama Sastry as servant Narayya, Srilakshmi as Pankajamma were praiseworthy. Sambasivam and Kameswara Sarma made a humourous team. Veteran actor and director B. Narayana handled the drama well.
