After the resounding success of its debut back in 2024, ‘Sri Krishnarpanamastu’ is back with double the fervour. The musical which will take the audience through Lord Krishna’s childhood stories, or leelas, is all set to take place at the St Helens Royal Theatre in Merseyside on March 23. The event will also see Cllr Jeanette Banks, Mayor of St Helens Borough Council, attend the performance and support the children.
“The important questions about planning a second run were not just what we wanted to do, but why and how?” reflects Dr Anuradha Venugopal, who has spearheaded this project since its inception, along with her husband Pradeep Sathyanarayan.
Dr Venugopal explains that despite the overwhelmingly positive response for the first show, a second show was not always on the cards. However, once the decision was made, the process this time around would be very different.
For example, this time the show is also fully self-funded, driven entirely by community support, which Dr Venugopal admits is nerve-wracking but is also quick to thank the generous support the community has shown. Their Go Fund Me page continues to grow and ticket sales have been very encouraging.
“This time, we also put out a formal call for the participants, with a single focus on trying to involve as many regions of India as possible,” she says.
Their call was met with over 60 families showing interest, something which reflects in their team today, which consists of people speaking Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi, Saurashtra and Tamil.
“The musical component is much bigger with the second show. Creating music and the background scores were by far the most intense, absorbing yet riveting,” explains Dr Venugopal.
With a central role in the production, music is not merely an accompaniment but an integral part of the narrative itself, shaping the storytelling, heightening emotions, offering moments of reflection and seamlessly blending the performances. The musical score features a selection of well-known hymns, kritis, thillanas, and shlokas from both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.
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The group has now been practicing for over 10 weeks at the Broomwood Community Wellbeing centre and will boast a full musical ensemble led by Mukhesh Kannan with 3 to 4 vocalists, 3 percussionists, a keyboard player and base.
The show prides itself on being something the entire family can join in with. The child actors were not chosen based on audition but rather given roles on the day first of the rehearsals after the families registered. Dr Venugopal believes that events and activities which promote culture and heritage should be a family activity, not just a children’s activity.
“Today, when the Radhas sashay onto stage, Krishnas have that mischief on the face, the littlest ones running around with unintentional purpose, it feels like we would have it no different. They have brought their personalities to the roles rather than being curbed in the limitations of acting one out,” she quips, recounting the joy of the rehearsal process.
“We still maintained that trained artists would be the only ones performing the live music and dancing. Being a student of arts myself, I know the value of watching good quality performances,” Dr Venugopal adds.
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Despite the challenges along the way, like finances, navigating logistics and reaching out to audiences, the team of 35 children, 11 artists and 57 parents is brimming with positive energy and is ready for the grand performance this weekend.
“The intention is simple - we want to tell a story and present it with pride. A pride in our culture, traditions and our legacy.
“On the 23rd of March, as each child and parent takes a final bow, there will be a piece of that stage each family will own and say is theirs,” she concludes.
*Info: Sri Krishnarpanamastu