Spanning across three timelines, the play 'Vruksho Rakshati Rakshitaha' chose to highlight the human tendency to destroy nature for their own advancements.
The Nandi award winning play enacted by the students of the S.S.B.N. Degree and PG College, Anantapur, as part of the two-day theatre festival, Navyandhra Natakotsavalu by Sri Padmanabha National Academy of Fine Arts, here on Saturday, emphasised the need for safeguarding the environment for future generations.
The first timeline is set at Khandava Vanam, a mythological forest which was cleared by the Pandavas for constructing the city of Indraprastha.
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The artistes showcased how Lord Krishna, Arjuna and others employ the services of Agni Deva to burn the forest to the ground.
A similar situation is enacted in the second timeline, wherein a king orders the trees to be cut down for decorating the palace, highlighting the plight of the people displaced from the forest area. The final timeline depicted the current situation i.e., the conflict between industries and forest dwellers.
In addition, the artistes chose to highlight the problems that might arise due to the destruction of nature such as water wars and desertification, further leading to the demise of all living things on the planet.
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This marked the commencement of the theatre festival. Earlier, an array of scintillating traditional dances were performed.
Award winning plays
Speaking to The Hindu , the organisers said the two-day theatre festival would host several award winning plays from the 2016 Nandi Natakotsavams and would surely offer a treat to the theatre aficionados in the temple city.
Theatre artistes from across the State will be taking part in the festival enacting mythological, social and other plays. The event, being held at the TTD’s Mahati Auditorium, would conclude on October 15.