THANJAVUR: The rich tradition of the ‘Bhagavata Mela’ is nurtured by the performance of ‘Bhagavata Mela Natya Natakams’ written by Melattur Venkatarama Sastry (1743-1809) at places like Melattur, Saliyamangalam and Theperumanallur in Thanjavur district every year.
Keeping in tune with the traditional style, ‘Bhagavata Mela Natya Natakam’ styled ‘Prahalada Charitramu’ was performed in oil lamp lighting (oil lamps were used instead of electric lights as was done in olden days) at Melattur on Tuesday night.
Organised by the ‘Melattur Bhagavata Mela Natya Vidya Sangam’ and ‘Melattur Bhagavata Mela Natya Natak Trust’, in the drama, Aravind Subramanyam played the role of Hiranyakashibu, Nagarajan acted as Leelavathy (wife of Hiranyakashibhu), Master Surya Swaminathan as Prahalad and P.Ramaswamy as Lord Narasimha.
In ‘Bhagavata Mela Natakams’, male artists don the role of females and Nagarajan, as Leelavathy performed exceedingly well. ‘Bharatham Mahalingam’, art director, directed the ‘Natakams’.According to Mahalingam, the festival will go on till May 14.
Bhagavata Mela Natya Natakam Prahalada Charitramu being performed at Saliyamangalam near Thanjavur. (Photo: DC)
‘Kuchupudi’ and Bharatanatyam dances were held on Wednesday night. The ‘Bhagavata Mela Natakam Harischandra Charithramu (Bhagavata Mela Natakam)’ was performed on Thursday night.
Another great story ‘Markandeya Charitramu’ will be performed on Friday night and ‘Krishna Jananaleela Charitramu’ on Saturday night.
‘Aandal Thirukalyanam’ will be held on Sunday and the festival will end with ‘Anjaneya Utsavam’ on the same day.
Nalli Kuppuswamy, Industrialist and Chairman of the Sangam inaugurated the festival on Tuesday night.
SALIYAMANGALAM
At Saliyamangalam, 20 km from Thanajvur, also, ‘Bhagavata Mela’ started on Tuesday night.
The inaugural drama at ‘Saliyama-ngalam’ was also ‘Prahalada Charithramu’. C.S.M.Subramanyam acted as Hiranyakashibu, G.Ganesa Rathnam as Leelavathy, N.Ha-rish as Prahalad, V.P .Naveen as Bala Prahalad and S.V.Vijayaraghavan as Lord Narasimha.
Organisers of the Mela said that ‘Bhagavata Mela’ is held at Saliyamangalam for the past 372 years. The ‘Bhagavata Mela Natakam’ went on unmindful of the heavy rain that lashed at mid-night.
However, the venue was changed from the stage put up in the street to Vasantha Mandapam. The drama went on till morning. Climax of the drama-Lord Narasimha ending the life of Hiranyakashibu was held in the early hours on Wednesday
Meanwhile, Thanjavur district experienced sporadic rain on Wednesday night. Weather remained overcast on Thursday.
The rain brought respite to people from the sweltering heat. Rainfall recorded till eight (in mms) on Thursday were: Madukkur 20, Orathanadu 12.80 and Neyvasal Thenpathi 4.20 mm.
