Rural-Urban Fault Lines Resurface as ‘Matti Manushulu’ Screens at Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival

The seemingly inescapable rural–urban fault lines have resurfaced once again in B. Narsing Rao’s Matti Manushulu at the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival, where the National Award-winning film was screened as part of the festival’s 20th year celebrations. More than three decades after its release, the film’s unflinching portrayal of migrant labourers and the silent tragedies embedded in city life continues to strike a chord with audiences, reminding its relevance, in an era marked by widening social and economic divides.

Matti Manushulu (The Mud People), the acclaimed 1990 Telugu film drama was among the prominent features of the festival’s first weekend, which also included a special costume workshop by National Award-winning designer Dolly Ahluwalia and the screening of Mohan Agashe’s ‘Outhouse’ featuring Sharmila Tagore.

Produced under the Little India banner, the 87-minute Telugu film stars Archana in the lead and is widely regarded as one of the most compelling cinematic explorations of rural migration and urban hardship. Shot on 35 mm Eastman Colour, the film carries the story, scenario, music and direction by B. Narsing Rao, with script by S.M. Pran Rao and Narsing Rao. It was produced by K. Mukherjee and Ved Kumar.

Matti Manushulu won the Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 38th National Film Awards, with the Jury citing it “for portraying the stark reality of pain underlined with the warm hues of life.” The film also received international recognition, winning the Diploma of Merit at the 17th Moscow International Film Festival (1991), and was screened at the 1990 International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking its impact on both national and global platforms.

The film follows the journey of Narasaiah and Pochamma, a migrant couple who arrive in the city with their young son in search of livelihood. Working as daily-wage labourers at a construction site, they navigate the stark shift from the gentle rhythms of village life to the harsh, isolating realities of urban existence. While Pochamma remains rooted in memories of her village, Narasaiah is gradually pulled into the vices of the city, widening the emotional distance between them. Their lives unravel further with the entry of Gowramma and the pressures of debt, exploitation and sexual harassment, culminating in a tragic and powerful conclusion.

In his director’s note, Narsing Rao highlights the contrast between rural resilience and urban vulnerability, drawing attention to the difficult choices faced by those displaced by poverty and the vagaries of nature.

As the festival moves into its second weekend, Hyderabad audiences can look forward to a diverse line-up of live performances. The Hindi play Chanda Bedni will be staged on November 14 at the State Art Gallery, Madhapur. This will be followed by the Telugu play Dorra on November 15 and the Hindi play Unchayi on November 16, both scheduled at the Shilparamam Amphitheatre. All performances begin at 7 p.m.

Celebrating two decades of theatre, cinema and cultural exchange, the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival, organized in collaboration with Telangana Tourism and GHMC, continues to bring together significant works that reflect social realities while engaging contemporary audiences.