Surabhi (theatre group)

Surabhi (also known as Sri Venkateswara Surabhi Theatre) is a family theatre group based in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The group performs plays based on stories from Hindu mythology and the Puranas.
History.
The Surabhi theatre group was formed by Vanarasa Govinda Rao in 1885 in Surabhi, a village in the Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh. Rao's adopted father was involved with the traditional shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh, "tholu bommalata". After his death, Rao took over the group, gradually replacing the puppets with live actors.
In 1885, Rao was invited to host a live drama at a wedding by the elders of Surabhi. His acting troupe performed the play "Keechaka Vadham", traditionally depicted using leather puppets, as a live drama.
Sri Vanarasa Govindarao, founder of Surabhi Theatres, had a family of 3 sons and 10 daughters. Except the eldest son, all the others spent their lives in the theatre and were trained for it. When the family started growing in numbers, the daughters with their husbands started establishing their own theatre groups.
The fifth daughter, Smt. Subhadramma and her husband Sri R. Venkatarao established Sri Venkateshwara Natya Mandali (Surabhi) in 1937 in Jimidipeta village of Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh. The wife and husband were assisted by their children Dasaradhirao and Bhojaraju. The theatre group started growing and is now one of the biggest surviving groups with 55 members. Smt. R. Subhadramma has specialised in doing male roles, particularly characters like Duryodhana in "Mahabharata". She was awarded the title of 'Kala Praveena' by Sangeeta Nataka Akademi of Andhra Pradesh. In addition, both the husband and wife received many honors from various organizations of the state. Since their death, their sons are now managing the theatre.
Under the guidance of Padma Shri B.V. Karanth, the organization learned three plays: "Bhishma" (1996), organized by the National School of Drama (New Delhi), "Chandi Priya" (1997) by Alarippu (New Delhi), and "Basthi Devatha Yaadamma" ("The Good Women of Setzuan" written by Bertolt Brecht) (1998). B.V. Karanth not only directed these three plays for the group but also provided music for all three plays.
The group live together and travel from place to place to perform in specially erected halls. The group stays at each place for three months to a year, depending on public response. As a repertory group, they present 26 plays.