It was like a dream come true for stage artiste P. Mani Bala to bag the Nandi award for the first time in her life for the opera Vishnu Sayujyam . She gives credit to her decade-long consistent performance.
“The recognition makes me feel on top of the world and, as an artiste, getting the best actress award is one of the biggest achievements,” she says.
For Ch. Durga Sarada, a teacher and an artiste, the drama Chivari Adhyayam became closer to her heart as her third theatre presentation proved to be lucky.
“This play helped me bag the best actress award. Nothing tastes as sweet as success,” she shares.
Those who gathered at the felicitation programme organised by Rao Gopala Rao Smaraka Nataka Kalaparishad, a wing of A Creative Makers in Events, theatre artistes shared their experiences and what it meant to them to get recognised in a highly competitive world.
In all, 10 awards had been presented to Visakhapatnam-based theatre artistes at the recent Nandi Natakotsavam 2013-2014.
“It is indeed a proud moment for all of us. Chivari Adhyayam was written, directed, and acted by me. The plot deals with many emotional elements and I think it is one of the reasons why it has been widely appreciated,” says 70-year-old S.K. Misro, veteran actor and theatre personality, who had hit a hat-trick by grabbing best director and presentation awards for the playlet and best director for his another drama Nirbhaya Na Kuturu .
Stage artistes and Nandi awardees — B.V.N. Patro, D. Muralidhar, P.T. Madhav, and Chalasani Krishna Prasad — were felicitated by CMD of Vijay Nirman Company S. Vijay Kumar, former MLA Malla Vijay Prasad, and artiste Kasi Vishwanath.
Founder-president of ACME Pratap Kumar and convener of the Kalaparishad B. Jagath Rao, among others, were present.
Theatre artistes who bagged Nandi awards in the recent Nandi Natakotsavam share their experiences
