This theatre family safeguarding a 130-year old tradition is now struggling to raise funds and survive

• Sri Venkateswara Surabhi theatre has been performing plays together every week for generations ever since their inception in 1885.
• With the coronavirus lockdown, the family is now struggling to survive and is raising funds.
• The troop is known for its recreation of Hindu mythology with brilliant light and sound techniques, elaborate yet meticulous make-up, and larger than life costumes and backdrops

In Hyderabad, a family of 65 members stay together for their one love – theatre. The family behind the renowned Sri Venkateswara Surabhi theatre has been performing plays together every week for generations ever since its inception in 1885 in Surabhi, a village in the Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh.

Known for their colourful adaptations of Hindu mythology which transport you back in time, the family now faces an obstacle that paints a dark future for them. With the coronavirus lockdown, the family, which lives together and puts up shows every week, is now struggling to survive and is raising funds.

An Instagram post, that was even shared by actor Rana Daggubati, says, “Members of the family have lost their job and are going through the worst phase of their lives. The group consists of many kids and older people who are deprived of basic necessities due to this lockdown going on in India. Surabhi theatre is striving to survive through this difficult time and needs all our support and help.”


Through the social media campaign they are now asking for donations.

Keeping a 130-year old tradition alive

In 1885, the family’s ancestor and founder of the troop Vanarasa Govinda Rao, took over his father’s traditional show puppetry and established the theatre group. Their first show Keechaka Vadha involved puppets and live drama. The show was a big success and there has been no turning back since then.

The group is also credited to have been the first to bring women on stage. “Since the Surabhi is a family system, women were motivated to perform the women's roles on their own. It also popularised gramophone records, contributed actors to the film industry, and took theatre beyond the geographical boundaries of Andhra Pradesh,” says the group’s official website.

They were also the first to tick off the ticketing system for plays.

Ever since then, the troop is known for its recreation of Hindu mythology with brilliant light and sound techniques, elaborate yet meticulous make-up, and larger than life costumes and backdrops. The entire family lives together and produces these shows.

Through their plays, they have also addressed social issues in the rural areas.

In 2013, Rekandar Nageswara Rao who is the director of the group was awarded the Padma Shri, but before him, a director B V Karanth too was awarded with the civilian honour.

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