Culture complex revives the bygone glory

HYDERABAD: Taramati Baradari, the four-hundredyear-old monument near Golconda, is all set for inauguration on February 4 with a four-day cultural fest. The events will be a tribute to the legendary singer-dancer in the court of 17th century ruler Abdullah Qutb Shah.
The festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at the culture complex built by the AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in front of the monument at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
The facilities created by APTDC at the historic site include an open air auditorium, air cooled theatre, multicuisine restaurant, bar, banquet hall cum conference hall and air-conditioned rooms and suites for visiting artistes.
At a curtain raiser for media attended by Tourism Minister T Srinivasa Yadav, APTDC chairman and managing director C Anjaneya Reddy and other officials on Thursday evening, the contribution of veteran dancer Nataraja Ramakrishna to the revival of the monument drew special praise from all.
For the thespian himself, it was a momentous occasion. As he recalled, he ran from pillar to post to impress upon the tourism and culture mandarins to take up the revival of the monument and accord due place in history to Taramati.
"Taramati and Premavathi were not just courtesans. They were Kala Tapasvins," Nataraja Ramakrishna remarked. He said for a professional artist like him, nothing could bring more satisfaction than restoring due importance to other great artists in history. The patronage extended by the Muslim ruler to the Hindu dancers best exemplified the cultural integration 400 years ago that is being talked about now, he felt.
To an appeal made by Nataraja Ramakrishna that Premavathi monument should also be revived, the minister assured him that 17 acres of land would be given for the purpose. An announcement on this would be made by the chief minister on February 4, Yadav said.
The four-day cultural programmes from February 4 includes Taal India, a percussion ensemble by folk drummers from various parts of the country, a ''sangam'' of carnatic vocalist Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Burra Katha, Durga dance ballet by Hema Malini, Chindu Yakshaganam, Kuchipudi by Sobha Naidu, Perini Shivathandavam by the disciples of Nataraja Ramakrishna, ''Tunes of the dunes'' music from the deserts of Rajasthan, Sufi Qawali and Bharatanatyam by Sobhana and group.