Vijayawada: Drama today doesn't reflect society's problems says veteran stage and movie writer, director and actor YS Krishneswara Rao

Vijayawada: "UNDOUBTEDLY drama belongs to society and it is for society. Drama is the combination of all fine arts like literary flavour, dance, folk, light, music, costumes etc. With all these ingredients, the message will reach the public effectively. But unfortunately, the present drama is lacking some of these flavours. I feel it is not the mistake of writers or directors. The environment is not permitting the writer to discuss any social issue," says veteran stage and movie writer, director and actor YS Krishneswara Rao.

Discussing the rise and fall of drama with The Hans India, he recalls, "in this context I would like to share one incident that happened in 1502, wherein how the artists tried to highlight the problems faced by the public. The Kuchipudi artistes are performing the dance. Normally in those days the artistes used to go to different places to exhibit their talent before the kings.

They went to Siddavatam, which was governed by Sanneta Guravaraju though it is under the rule of Vijayanagara King Veera Narasimha Rayalu. The Kuchipudi artistes observed that the Sammeta Guravaraju was harassing the public in many ways and people of that province were fed up with him. The artistes went and met King Veera Narasimha Rayalu and got permission to stage the 'Kelika'.

In that programme the artiste highlighted the atrocities of Sammeta Guravaraju. The King was surprised and after the programme he enquired the team and immediately he ordered his men to set right the issue. Here, we can observe the intensity of drama to protect the interest of society. Drama is a powerful media to question anyone, he says.

Krishneswara Rao is a noted artiste, writer and director in Telugu theatre. He staged many dramas like Sampada, Roju Chastunna Manishi, Go to Hell; Raga Ragini, Trijudu, to name a few. He won many awards from the government and also voluntary cultural organisations. He, himself established a cultural organisation, "Rasajhuri" in Ponnuru. He is also an established actor and worked in many movies. He feels pride to mention that he acted with scholar, actor Burra Subrahmanya Sastry in 'Go to Hell', penned by eminent writer Gollapudi Maruthi Rao and directed by another famous actor-cum-director Chatla Sreeramulu.

Krishneswara Rao says that the drama has the power of changing the attitude of a person. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi mentioned in his autobiography that he was influenced by the play 'Raja Harischandra'.

Continuing to share his views Krishneswara Rao said that drama was promoted by Nataka Parishads in early days and many reforms-based dramas were written by the writers of the yore. He emotionally said that the drama used to question the government, its policies and highlighted the civil rights and responsibilities. But due to many constraints now, it is confined mostly to family drama. In his words, drama is just like a 'Yagnam', the essence of the drama is "Havissu" and this 'Havissu' is for society and people.

"Nowadays there is only one platform for staging the play i.e. competitions. So, the writers and producers bank on these Parishads and the production houses are also within the limitations of the organisers. And there is no doubt that dramas are being stated to win prizes in the competitions. So, if we keenly analyse the issue, drama should satisfy the judges first and next the audience. If drama tells any controversial or criticism-based subjects, the judges may not digest it and thereby the chances of getting awards will be reduced.

This is one aspect for not getting any revolutionary plays with social responsibility. Another point is that it is not possible to question any government organisation, government policies, government agencies or the administration. I strongly feel though drama is for society, the environment should also permit to produce such dramas," says Krishneswara Rao.

Krishneswara Rao emphasised that this could be done only with some congenial atmosphere for writers and assured platforms to stage these dramas.