Kotte Venkatachari'splay titled Gunanidhi' , a character found in 15th century poet Srinadha's masterpiece Kasi Khandam', was staged by C.S.R. Kalamandir at Thyagaraya Ganasabha recently. The play in the form of a book was released at a brief function and was dedicated to K.V. Ramana, IAS.
The gist of this play lies in the last act that deals with a theory that ‘journey after the death of a person depends upon what the person did just before he breathed his last, and not on many sins he committed earlier'. The intent of theme conceived by the original poet was to elevate the Bhakti element to pristine levels. Gunanidhi is taken as an example of a man gone astray but who finally dies in a Siva temple and his soul is blessed by Lord Siva.
Gunanidhi is the son of devout parents Yagnadutta and Somidamma. As a grown up, he becomes the cause of their troubles. Involved in all vices, Gunanidhi loses his mother's ring gambling and leaves home. He seeks solace inside a shiva temple where he eventually breathes his last. The play ends narrating reasons why Gunanidhi deserved Kailasa, not Yamaloka as what all he did before his last breath was a display of Bhakti to Lord Siva, knowingly or unknowingly.
Almost all actors featured in the drama are experienced in histrionics and verse rendition.
K. Srinivasa Rao gave a laudable performance in the main role of Gunanidhi. Kotte Vekatachari and Srilakshmi made a good team as parents E.S.R.Murthy as gambler, Visaradudu and Ramalakshmi as Soudamini and the harlot played their parts well. Salvachari was Marthanda Verma, the king A. Pavankumar and Vanam Sankariah were Sivabaludu and Karaludu respectively.
Venugopalachari's musical support was a real guide for the singers to shift into different ragas .
