RAJAHMUNDRY: The historic and cultural city of Rajahmundry is all set for hosting the prestigious government-organised 15-day Nandi Natakotsavams from Saturday.
As many as 84 plays and playlets -- 41 of them for the year 2013 and 43 for the year 2014 - will be staged during the 15-day mega event. As many as 2,500 stage artistes from 84 ‘nataka samajalu’ will be participating in the fete.
The government will give out a total of 66 Nandi Theatre Awards for each of the two years for different categories such as ‘Padya Natakams’, Social Plays, Social Playlets and Children-oriented Social Playlets.
This year, the state government has increased the cash award amount to Rs 13,62,500 from Rs 9,15,000. The performance remuneration has also been enhanced to 44 ‘nataka samajalu’ and also to play writers to Rs 14.52 lakh from Rs 10.48 lakh.
Speaking to newsmen here, Film Development Corporation managing director Ramana Reddy said that the cash award of the ‘NTR Rangastala Puraskaram’ had also been hiked to Rs 1.50 lakh.