Othello reimagined in Telangana on Hyderabad's stage

When the protagonist screams, “Naa pellam l&*%a (expletive) ani rujuvu cheshe varku naku manashanthi undadi,” (I won’t have peace of mind until you prove that my wife is a wh**e) in a fit of jealous rage, the audience at Ravindra Bharathi were taken aback. An adaptation of Shakespeare’s

Othello

in chaste Telangana, by

Nishumbita Theatre and Ballet

,

Karrigadu

brimmed with extreme emotions. Directed by Dr Rammohan Holagundi, the play set in a remote village of Telangana, narrates the tale of the dark skinned, brave leader, Karrigadu — played by Vijay Ayancha — who marries the beautiful Sithamma (Sowmya Ram), of a higher caste. Jealous of his stature and his beautiful wife, hunch-backed Saidulu (Nikhil Kandari) plots, manipulates and poisons the minds of people to ruin Karranna’s life. Staying true to the setting of the play, the characters deliver dialogues in perfect Telangana dialiect. The actors didn’t falter the slightest despite the long scenes and complex monologues. The use of light and stage design enhanced every scene to its best. Seamless blending of mime, ballet and the traditional Telangana dappu elevated the narration to a whole new level. The audience clapped, hooted and whistled to the performances. The tragic end of Karrigadu was met at first with slow claps, which then turned into a thunderous applause.