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| Sri Ramanuja reaching the abode of SRi Vaikuntam-In shasow puppet form |
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| Thirukollur Penn Pillai and Sri Ramanujacharya |
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| Sri Gosthipurna, Sri Ramanujacharya and Kidambi Achchan |
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| Ashtaskri Maha Mantropadesham by Sri Gostipurna to Bhagavat Ramanujacharya |
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| A Princess of Pandiya kingdom Obssessed with evil force and Sri Ramanuja |
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| Rod Puppets as Sudhardhar along with accompanists. |
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| Rod Puppets |
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| Sri Ramanuja as a disciple of Sri Yadava Prakasha |
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| Kanchipurna and Sri Yamunacharya |
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| Sri Kanchipurna and Sri Ramanuja |
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| Sri Ramanuja and his wife Rakshambal. |
Sphoorthi
Theatre for Educational Puppetry, Art and Craft - STEPARC has completed 12
successful years and marching ahead in 13th year with many more
endeavor to accomplish.
Sphoorthi
Theatre is working in restoration of revival of traditional art of Puppetry-Bommalata in Andhra Pardesh and of Telangana states in Particular. Both these
states are blessed with unique folk art forms-Bommalata being one among them.
Telangana state is popularly known for known for Bommalata-Koyya or Chekka
Bommalata (String and Rod puppetry) and Andhra Pradesh for Tolu Bommalata (Leather
Puppets).
Sphoorthi Theatre -STEPARC have been involved in
promoting Puppetry as a medium to educate children and young adults on various
relevant spheres like,
- Basic language
skills
- Elementary
mathematics
- Social and
civic sciences
Our endeavours
till date have led to partnerships with different premier institutions
like Govt of India - CCRT - Center for Cultural Resources and Training, Telengana
Government – Dept of Language and Culture and Dept of Tribal Welfare, British Council, Nokia India ,
Youth for Seva and so on.
As part of 1000 years
celebration worldwide known as Sahasrabdhi celebration of Sri Ramanujacharya
(1017-1137 C.E), Sphoorthi Theatre planned to work out a Puppet play in Telugu
called “Sri Ramanuja Vaibhavam” in a combination of Koyya Bommlata (Rod
Puppets) and Tolu Bommlata(Shadow Puppets).
In order to
maintain the aesthetics of the traditional Bommalata-a “Haraikatha” a folk style
of narration of Ramayana or Bhagavatham Storytelling was adopted with a twist again,
puppets playing sequences in shadow puppets. This experiment of puppet play for
90 minutes was well received with some constructive criticism too.
Our Journey
moves on to the medieval era and we have chosen to present the life of Sri.
Ramanuja Charya the Vishishtadwaita proponent on the occasion of his
Sahasrabdhi which is 1000 years of his birth.
We have interplay of the rod and shadow puppetry forms which is itself
an experimental thought. We have attempted to maintain the aesthetics of both
the forms
within the same play. The
other interesting aspect is that though the main play is in Telugu, it is
interspersed with Tamil pasurams (divine sayings of Alwars) and Sanskrit
shlokas.
The play focuses on Sri. Ramanuja’s
tireless focus and enablement of societal equity
, upliftment of down trodden, respect and
empowerment of women.
Even one thousand years ago, when societal mores were much more rigid, Sri Ramanuja himself worked towards upliftment of the untouchable sects like Dalits and others and had laid down the temple worship practices wherein Dalits and other oppressed sections were allowed entry into the Melkote temple on three festivals. This made Sri Ramanujacharya to be known as “a Revolutinary Saint”. Sri Ramanuja universalized access to God for all through “simple love and Bakthi”.—This is the magnanimity of Sri Ramanujacharya.
Sri Ramanuja was both “contemporary and relevant”, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan swamigal in one of his interview to Deccan chronicle said the former “stood the test of time” as a visionary who brought out the timeless aspects of the ‘Vedas’ and ‘Vedanta’ that strikes a chord in people’s hearts even today, as a means of ‘spiritual uplift’ of every individual soul.(
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/060516/1-000-years-on-ramanuja-both-contemporary-and-relevant.html).
Again, not many are aware of the contribution done Sri Ramanujacharya in the Spiritual, Social, Empowerment and Mankind.
Sri Ramanuja
Vaibhavam-Koyya-Tolu Bommalata
(Rod and Shadow Puppet Play)
Time: 90 minutes
Language: Main
play in Telugu, (Alwar pasurams in Tamil and Sanskrit Shlokas in Sankrit)
An attempt in
the form of an interplay of the rod and shadow puppetry forms which is itself
an experimental thought. We have attempted to maintain the aesthetics of both
the forms within the same play. Here, the Harikatha style of Sutrdhara
narration of storytelling in adapted which is again one of the beautiful art
form of storytelling. Another interesting aspect is Koyya bommalu (Rod puppets) introduces or
plays tolu bommalata (shadow puppets).
The play focuses on Sri. Ramanuja’s tireless
focus and ennoblement of societal equity , upliftment of down trodden, respect
and empowerment of women.
As part of Sri
Ramanuja Sahasrabdhi celebration, we would like to make access of Sri
Ramanuja’s story to maximum number of people and get blessed.
On August 28,
2017, in collaboration with Department of Language and Culture, Govt. of
Telangana, we presented Sri Ramanuja Vaibhavam puppet show at Ravindra
Bharathi, Ladkikapul, Hyderabad.
Hon’ble Chairman
of Telanagna State Public Service Commission, Hyderabad, Prof. Ghanta. Chakrapani was the Chief Guest.
He was accompanied by yet another Special Chief Guest Vice-Chancellor of Potti
Sree Ramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, Prof. S.V. Satyanarayana garu.
Guests of
Honour: Director of Department of Language and Culture, Govt. of Telangana, Sri
Mamidi Harikrishna Garu and Director of Ananth Technologies Sri V. Shashikumar
Garu.
Special Guests
for the event : Rev. Sri Shithikantananda Swamiji or Sri RamaKrishna Order of Sri
RamaKrishna Math, Hyderabad and Theatre, All India Radio Artists and a profound
Sri Vaishnava Siddhnatha Scholar Sri. T.Ranagarajan, Hubli
Lighting the Lamp
by Smt Kumudha Rangarajan and Smt. Subhadra Srinivasan.
All the members,
supporter, donors of Sphoorthi Theatre were honoured with mementos as a token
of remembrance.
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| Soyam BheemaRao greeting Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu. Sri. S.K.Ranagarajan and myself are also seen |
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| Vice ChacellorPottiSree Ramulu Telugu University , Hyderabad Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu and Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu |
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| Smt. Kumudha Rangarajan and Smt. Subhadra Srinivasan Lighting the lamp and other Guests on the dais are present. |
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| Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu lighting the lamp |
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| Dr. Lohita Neelamraju anchoring the event for the day. |
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| Dr. Srinivasanchary interacting with the chief Guests. |
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| Sri. T.Rangarajan special Guests lighting the lamp. |
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| Sri Saraswati Upasakulu Daivagnya Sharma garu interacting with the Chief Guest. |
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| Dr. Harini T.V Rendering the invocation song on Sri Ramanuja |
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| Sri Raghu Srinivasan Founder President of Sphoorthi Theatre-STEPARC honouring the Chief Guest Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu with a shawl as a traditional practice. |
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| Sri Raghu Srinivasan Founder President of Sphoorthi Theatre-STEPARC honouring the Chief Guest Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu with a bouquet and a memento. Little Sreenidhi alias Donga is seen. |
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| S.K.Ranagarajan honoured the Special Guest Sri. T.Ranagarajan. Little Sreenidhi alias Donga is holding the bouquet. |
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| S.K.Ranagarajan honoured the Special Guest Sri Daivagnya Sharma. Little Sreenidhi alias Donga is holding the bouquet. |
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| Sri. Vijayaraghavan honoured V. Shashikumar. Little Sreenidhi alias Donga is holding seen. |
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| Sri. Vijayaraghavan honoured V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu. Little Sreenidhi alias Donga is holding bouquet. |
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| Sri Raghu Srinivasan Founder President of Sphoorthi Theatre-STEPARC welcomed Rev. Sri. Shithikanatananda Swmiji of Rama Krishna Order. |
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| Chief Guest Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Ms. Radhika. K. Sphoorthi Team member |
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| Chief Guest Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Ms. Sharvanthi Devara-Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guest Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu Presented memeonto to Smt. Sudha Neelamraju(Versatile artists and Sphoorthi Executive member |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu and V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Dr. Harini T.V. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu & V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Sri. Vara Pradeep garu-Sphoorthi Voice over team member |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu & V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Mr. Akunoori Dayakar- Dept. of Theatre student and Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presenting memento to Mr. Kodapa Gajanand -Sphoorthi Faculty Team |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu
presenting memento to Mr. Boyini Prakash-Sphoorthi Faculty Team |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu
presenting memento to Mr.HK.Puneesh-Sphoorthi Faculty Team |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu
presenting memento to Mr. Soyam bheem Rao-Sphoorthi Faculty Team |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu &
V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Mr. Sunny-Dept. of Theatre student and Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu &
V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Mr. Neelam Naresh-Dept. of Theatre student and Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu &
V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Mr. Swaroop Devathala- A musician and Student of Music college. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu &
V.C. Prof. S.V.Satyanarayana garu jointly presented memento to Mr. Md. Khaleem-Dept. of Theatre student and Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Ms. Archana Gowrikar-Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Mrs. Padmaja Krishnamachary. SPhoorthi Executive member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Mr. Anirudh- the Inspire to start Sphoorthi Theatre |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Mr. Manoj-Dept. of Theatre student and Sphoorthi Team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Dr. Lohita Neelamraju-Sphoorthi Team member |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Dr.Rukmini Mridula (Neurologist NIMS, Hyderabad) |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Mr. Anil Kumar (Alias kaka) -Sphoorthi team member. |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu presented memento to Mr. D.Madhavan & Mrs. Jayashree Madhavan |
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| Chief Guests Hon'ble Chairman TSPSC Prof. Ghanta Chakarapani garu during his speech on the occasion. |
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| Guest of Honour Shri Mamidi Hariskrishna garu addressing the gathering. |
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| Sri. V.Shahsikumar garu addressing the gathering |
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