Udaya Bhanu Garikapati: A Visionary of Telugu Theatre and Cultural Education is no more. The legacy of common’s man’s theatre that he has left behind will live on through hundreds of his students many young children amongst them who have been touched by his creative vision and passion towards theatre.
Udaya Bhanu Garikapati, a luminary in the realm of Telugu theatre, passed away recently, leaving behind an indelible legacy as an actor, director, and educator. Born and raised in Vijayawada, Garikapati’s early exposure to the vibrant ‘natakam’ culture ignited his passion for the performing arts. He began acting in school plays at the age of ten and was particularly captivated by performances rooted in Indian mythology, especially Kuchipudi, which seamlessly blended song, dialogue, and dance.
Bhoomika, Charanadasu and Other Plays
In 1989, Garikapati founded the Bhoomika Theatre Group in Hyderabad, envisioning it as a self-reliant collective where members engaged in every facet of production—from writing and directing to stage design and music composition. Under his stewardship, Bhoomika became a crucible for innovative theatre, producing acclaimed adaptations and original works in Telugu, Hindi, and Deccani. Notably, their adaptation of Habib Tanvir’s “Charandas Chor,” titled “Charanadasu,” garnered three Nandi Awards in 1999 for Second Best Play, Best Direction, and Best Music.
Udaya Bhanu Garikapati’s commitment to theatre extended beyond the stage. He was deeply invested in education, conducting workshops for students, teachers, and aspiring actors. His training programs emphasized voice modulation, stage presence, and the use of traditional musical instruments, aiming to harness theatre as a tool for personal development and stress relief. In a 2002 interview with The Times of India, he observed a resurgence of interest in theatre among youth, attributing it to their quest for authentic and engaging experiences beyond the digital realm.
Garikapati also championed the preservation of folk traditions, integrating elements of street theatre and folk storytelling into his productions. His efforts were recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, which supported Bhoomika, enabling the group to offer free training to enthusiasts.
Theatre at Your Doorstep Drawing from Folk Arts
Among his innovative initiatives was “Mungitlo Natakam” (Theatre at Your Doorstep), launched in 2004. This program brought theatrical performances directly to residential communities in Hyderabad, aiming to cultivate a new generation of theatre-goers. After a brief hiatus, the initiative was revived in 2019, reflecting Garikapati’s enduring commitment to making theatre accessible.
Udaya Bhanu Garikapati’s contributions to theatre were not confined to performances. He was awarded a Senior Fellowship in 1999 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for his research on regional folk forms like Oggu Katha and Gollasuddulu, further enriching Bhoomika’s productions with traditional narratives.
His passing marks a significant loss to the cultural landscape of Hyderabad and the broader Telugu-speaking community. Garikapati’s unwavering dedication to theatre and education has left an indelible mark, inspiring countless individuals to explore and embrace the performing arts.
Vaishali Bisht, theatre actor, playwright, director and co-founder of Hyderabad Children Theatre Festival shares, “Udaya Bhanu was instrumental in conducting TIFLI festival (International Theatre Festival for Children and Young Audiences) for young audiences in Hyderabad and was President of Assitej india also for some time. Humble and sincere person in my experience. It’s a loss for Hyderabad theatre and many students of theatre who looked up to him.”
Udaya Bhanu Garikapati has always striven to bring theatre closer to common people beyond the niche. In the last few years he has been regularly training children in theatre at Our Sacred Space and staging plays that are free for all to watch. As Nayantara of Our Sacred Space shares, “He believed in staging plays for audience who can pay him Rs 1 for watching rather than elite audience.” His themes always reflected his philosophy, which he hopefully passed on to his students at Bhoomika.
