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Surabhi (also known as Sri Venkateswara Surabhi Theatre) is a family theatre group based in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The group performs plays based on stories from Hindu mythology and the Puranas. [1]
The Surabhi theatre group was formed by two brothers Vanarasa Govinda Rao and Vanarasa Chinna Ramaiah in 1885 in Surabhi Reddivaripalli, a village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. [2] Govinda Rao's adopted father was involved with the traditional shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh, tholu bommalata . [1] [3] After his death, Rao took over the group, gradually replacing the puppets with live actors. [3]
In 1885, Govinda Rao was invited to host a live drama at a wedding by the elders of Surabhi. His acting troupe performed the play Keechaka Vadham, traditionally depicted using leather puppets, as a live drama. [1] Women also performed in the plays, which was unheard of at the time. [2]
Govinda Rao had a family of three sons and ten daughters. Except the eldest son, all the others spent their lives in the theatre and were trained for it. When the family started growing in numbers, the daughters with their husbands began establishing their own theatre groups, reaching up to 50, before dwindling to five in 2003. [2] The biggest of these sub-groups was established in 1937 by Subhadramma, Govinda Rao's fifth daughter, and her husband R. Venkatarao, named Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali, [2] in Jimidipeta village of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Subhadramma specialised in doing male roles, particularly characters like Duryodhana in Mahabharata. She was awarded the title of 'Kala Praveena' by Sangeeta Nataka Akademi of Andhra Pradesh. In addition, both the husband and wife received many honors from various organizations of the state. Following their death, their sons managed the theatre.[ citation needed ]
Under the direction of B. V. Karanth, the organization performed three plays: Bhishma (1996), a Telugu adaptation of Dwijendralal Ray's play of the same name, organized by the National School of Drama; Chandi Priya (1997), which spoke for women's rights and capabilities, by Alarippu, a New Delhi-based organization; and Basthi Devatha Yaadamma, an adaptation of The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, in 1998. [2] Karanth directed and also composed music for all three plays.
The group live together and travel from place to place to perform in specially erected halls. The group stays at each place for three months to a year, depending on public response. As a repertory group, they present 26 plays.[ citation needed ]
Yakshagana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form. It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during the period of the Bhakti movement. It is sometimes simply called "Aata" or āṭa. This theatre style is mainly found in coastal regions of Karnataka in various forms. Towards the south from Dakshina Kannada to Kasaragod of Tulu Nadu region, the form of Yakshagana is called Thenku thittu and towards the north from Udupi up to Uttara Kannada it is called Badaga thittu. Both of these forms are equally played all over the region.(Not sure about this one but) Yakshagana is traditionally presented from dusk to dawn. Its stories are drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and other epics from both Hindu and Jain and other ancient Indic traditions.
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