Veedhinatakam is a popular form of drama in Telugu, the language of Andhra Pradesh. Plays in this style are characterized by poetic verse, songs of great metrical variety, dance, romance and farcical events from everyday life. The Shri Venkateswara Kala Natya Mandali combines in its performance and costumes elements from the indigenous theatre and elements gleaned from the Victorian stage. The latter became popular in India as early as the 1850s. The troupe has fifteen members, who have performed for Doordarshan Television.
2 hours Krishna is the child of Vasudeva and Devaki. Kamsa, King of Mathura, is the cousin of Devaki. A prophesy predicts that he will be killed by a child of Devaki. Therefore, Kamsa keeps Vasudeva and his wife in confinement and orders that all children born to Devaki should be killed. The first six children of Devaki are slain, but the seventh and eighth child, Balarama and Krishna, are saved without Kamsa's knowledge. Krishna is adopted by Nanda and Yasoda and grows up among the herdsmen (Yadavas). Kamsa comes to know that a child of Devaki lives among the Yadavas. He sends the demoness Putana to have the baby killed by feeding him poisoned milk. The play Krishna Lila depicts Krishna's youth as a young and amorous play with Yadava girls or gopis. It ends with the slaying of Kamsa by the young Krishna.
Characters
Kamsa, cousin of Devaki and king of Mathura
Shri Venkateswara Kala Natya Mandali
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