Theatre festival to enthrall denizens

HYDERABAD: The phrase, 'lights, camera, action' might not be limited just to movies these days. Theatre has moved on with the times and this is highlighted by the sudden boom of theatre activity in the city lately. Not only are the old theatre groups bringing about a 'revival' in them, but also there have been a lot of emerging groups inspired by legendary literature, who are putting in their efforts.Rangadhara, is the first theatre group from Hyderabad to have performed all over India and have worked with 600 artists till date. Rangadhara is celebrating completion of its 40 years in service of theatre and will organise a five-day Rangadhara theatre festival, starting from Sunday, July 3 to July 8. Each day of the festival will have a specific theme like Geeta Yatra, Natya Avishkar, Natya Pravaha and Natya Darpan.Geeta Yatra, the first programme on July 3 was a tribute to their first guru Manohar Chinnapatnam. "All the artists who have worked with Rangadhara in 1973 for recording of songs produced by the theatre group will be performing again," said professor Bhaskar Shewankar, president of Rangadhara. Natya Avishkar, a presentation of the fusion of Indian and Western classical dance, will be performed at the Bhaskara auditorium on July 5 at 6:30 pm.Natya Pravaha is a two-day dedication to theatre. On July 6, Dr CH Phansalkar’s, Isosceles Triangle, a Sutradhar presentation, directed by Vinay Varma will be screened at 7:30 pm at the NIFT auditorium in Madhapur along with Sifar theatre group's "Marano Oparant", directed by Feroz. On July 7, the festival will present three, one-act plays— Insurance of Death by Kalashroth, Udaan Performing Art's, Miya Biwi and Nishumbita's, I Act Without Words. Natya Darpan will present Rangadhara's 102nd play, Hum To Tere Aashiq Hain, directed by Prakash Phadnis on July 8.