Janapadam Stages Adaptation Of Chenchu Lakshmi

The 37-year-old Janapadam Theatre Repertory staged a spell-binding adaptation of Chenchu Lakshmi, a Telangana Chindu Yakshaganam penned by Chervirala Bangaiah at Ravindra Bharathi, on March 23.

It tells the mythological story of a young tribal girl, Chenchu Lakshmi, and provides important insights into tribal culture and the conflicts that permeate man-woman relationships in human society. Janapadam's recent adaptation, however, also included distinct political undertones.

With the hope of popularising the dying Chindu Yakshaganam art form, Janapadam founder Srinivas Denchanala and troupe member Chindula Shyam collaborated with the Department of Language and Culture to stage the production. They adapted the traditional dance ballet depicting the love story of Chenchu Lakshmi and Lord Narasimha to suit the tastes of urban audiences.

Their efforts allowed the audience to enjoy a modern retelling of a mythological story passed down orally for generations. The intricate costumes and clever stagecraft were real treats for theatre enthusiasts, but what was most heartening was the troupe's attempt to support what is today a fast-disappearing form of folk theatre.

The troupe hopes to be able to fund many more performances of Chenchu Lakshmi across different Indian cities to keep the form alive.