It was just a mind-blowing performance for 2hours by the Surabhi theatre group from Hyderabad who performed Pathala Bhairavi at the Music Academy. This is directed by R.Nageshwara Rao and is directed by Pingala Nagendra Rao. An Indian version of the famous Aladdin tale, there were around 60 characters on stage with varied and colorful costumes, background screens and props. The play kicked off with few stunts that were so natural and a comedy scene. A person who has nil knowledge about Telugu can also understand and enjoy. Such was the script. With live music that consisted of a keyboard, harmonium, tabla and bongos, it enlightened the mood of every scene. The whole plot is a chase and rescue tale, where sets change in no time, snakes and crocodiles come alive on stage, crackers burst on the arrival of a character, hands and heads are cut and so on. There is nobody back stage who gives voice for the actors. It is they who speak and sing songs on stage. These performers have a lot of stage presence and their spontaneity should be appreciated. 

After every scene when the lights go off, the crowd broke into applause. Characters Anji and Thappu Thappu provide the laughter medicines and they resemble the Thespian Nagesh in many ways. When one sees a small cottage in the gardens, the next second a palace set is there in front of the eyes. In no time, a sorcerer’s den is seen with appropriate lighting for each set, all done by the Surabhi group themselves.

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The dream scene where the lead characters Thotta Ramudu, the royal gardener’s son and Indumathi, the princess of Ujjain appear is stupefying. Everything was perfect and it was like watching a live movie on stage without any flaw or mistake. Watching Pathala Bhairavi was definitely a heavenly experience and for all those who missed this, do not worry. Surabhi performs every day next to the Hyderabad Railway Station. They perform only mythological stories which are woven with magic and tricks that goes without saying. Nippon Paint and evam who brought Surabhi down to Chennai need applause. Kudos to them!

Anitha.R