Making do with make-believe world

G.V. Subba Reddy of Sri Lakshmi Costumes and Makeup displaying various headgears (Kireetams) at Gandhinagar in Vijayawada on Friday

Subba Reddy sets base in city to promote costumes. Sharing a recent moment, he said his team of creators produced as many as 300 ‘Krishnas’ during Krishnashtami at Ongole.

Dozens of headgears (Kireetams) used in mythological playlets, neatly kept in the shelf, attract a naked eye from quite a distance.

Those ‘glittering’ crowns are meant to transform ordinary mortals into larger-than-life characters like “Krishnas”, “Ramas” “Kamsas” and ‘Ravanas” while on stage.

The capital city hope brought many to Vijayawada and the 55-year-old G.P. Subba Reddy is one who shifted his base from Guntur to promote costumes and make-up accessories to the emerging cultural world of the emerging capital city.

“I was a stage artiste and had played characters like ‘Ravana Brahma’, ‘Viswamithra’ and ‘Mayala Marati’ when stage ruled the cultural sphere. With drama pushed to the oblivion, I took up make up business,” says Mr. Reddy of Sri Lakshmi Costumes and Makeup, with outlets in Guntur and Ongole.

Thanks for the penchant showed by schools and colleges, especially corporate institutions, in conducting cultural programmes, art kiosks like Sri Lakshmi Costumes and Makeup are surviving with great difficulty. Adding to their revenue is other commercial events staged by clubs and NGOs.

“For any school anniversary, a welcome dance is a must. The school also stages skits promoting environment and animals. We have all sorts of ‘animals’ and ‘flora and fauna” in our studio,” says Mr. Reddy, who has pumped Rs. 30 lakh into business.

Sharing a recent moment, he said his team of creators produced as many as 300 ‘Krishnas’ during Krishnashtami at Ongole.

“We kept on churning out ‘Krishnas’ in all schools as there was an inter-school competition. We take enough precautions not use chemicals leading to skin allergy”.

The art kiosk offers both western, Indian attire along with junk jewels, wigs, flutes, AK-47s and pistols.

“We visit Machilipatnam, Chennai and Kolkata to buy junk jewels. Military and Bhangra attire, Devil masks, Gandhi caps and kurta pyjamas are the most-sought after ones by the art department of the schools.”

Mr. Reddy says school anniversaries, Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations; Krishnashtami, Gandhi Jayanti, Ganesh and Dasara festivities provide them good business.

“We offer concessions to schools programmes as a gesture to maintain goodwill.”