The Andhra Pradesh government has brought the curtains down on the popular Telugu play ‘Chintamani Padya Natakam’, which has enthralled people for almost 100 years.

Chintamani Padya Natakam

• It is a stage play penned by social reformer, writer and poet Kallakuri Narayana Rao about 100 years ago.
• In the play, the writer explains how people neglect their families by falling prey to certain social evils.
• It was aimed to create awareness on the Devadasi system and how the flesh trade was ruining many families at that particular period.
• Subbisetty, Chintamani, Bilvamangaludu, Bhavani Shankaram, and Srihari are some of the characters in the play.

Its performance

• The play is named after the main character, Chintamani, a woman born into a family involved in the flesh trade.
• The play focuses on how she attained salvation after repentance.
• Subbi Shetty, a character in the play, loses his wealth to Chintamani and his character is utilised in a way that engages the audience.
• Chintamani play is popular across the state. It has been performed at thousands of places.
• The play continues to engage the audience even today and has become a must stage play in villages during Dasara celebrations.

Why it got banned?

• Began as a social sermon, this play has been increasingly going vulgar.
• Subbi Shetty, who resembles a person of a transgender community, is used to portray the social group in a bad way.
• Obscene dialogues are added to the play in the name of creativity.

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