Book on Harihara Leela Vilasam released in Chennai

The transcript of Harihara Leela Vilasam, a dance drama written by Melattur Venkatrama Sastrigal in Telugu and Sanskrit was released in Chennai on Saturday by industrialist Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti.

He appreciated the efforts of former Principal of the Madras Sanskrit College N. V. Devi Prasad in reproducing them without losing their originality.

He recalled his long association with the Melattur Bhagavatha Mela and said the ten stories, including Rukmini Kalyanam, Parvathi Kalyanam, and Sita Kalyanam, were being presented by artists even today in the same traditional manner at Melattur during April - May. The 10-day long festival begins on Narasimha Jayanthi, he added.

Former DGP R. Natraj, who received the first copy of the book, said the Bhagavatha Mela has been performed for over 500 years without a break by a group of artistes to spread the message of the Srimad Bhagavatham.

“The script in Telugu and Sanskrit and also in Grantha lipi is being read and interpreted and performed. The challenge is that there are many scripts in Grantha lipi explaining the drama, thala kattu and the songs but very few to interpret and translate. Mr. Prasad has painfully taken efforts to translate in Sankrit and Telugu,” he said.

Ganesh Sharma, founder of Sri Mahaperiyava Anusham Trust, Mr. Prasad, industrialist K.V. Ramachandran and Mahalingam, a disciple of Balu Bhagavathar, founder, Melattur Bhagavata Mela Natya Vidya Sangam graced the occasion.