Hyderabad, April 16: In memory of Paruchuri Raghubabu, a five-day long 21st All India Drama competitions will be held from April 27 to May 1 at Paruchuri Raghubabu and T Subbarami Reddy Kala Mandapam in Pallekona village of Guntur district.
Tollywood star Venkatesh will be extending support for the event.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, the festival committee mentor and writer Paruchuri Gopalakrishna said that the celebration committee for the Paruchuri Raghubabu Memorial Theatre Show and T Subbarami Reddy has jointly sponsored Rs 25 lakh each for the construction of the kalamandapam in Pallekona village.
“The drama competition will be held in this newly inaugurated kalamandapam from April 27,” said Gopalakrishna.
He added that applications have been invited from interested candidates from allover India.
“We have received numerous applications and the names of candidates who qualified for the competition will be announced shortly,” he said.
He added that the best dramas performed in the competitions will be performed again in the Ravindra Bharathi on September 6 for the benefit of a larger audience in the twin cities.
“We have introduced as many as 50 artists to the Telugu film industry through various drama competitions in the state in memorial of Raghubabu,” he said.
Actor Venkatesh, who extended his support in organising drama competitions by Raghubabau memorial committee, said that such competitions would help the stage artists get offers in Telugu films.
He said his own banner – Suresh Productions Private Limited – has been encouraging new faces into Tollywood who have proved their talent.
–Agencies