Chitradurga’s legendary singer Bhairavi Venkata Subbaiah’s story forms the base of this play. Venkanna, as he is fondly called, is not only a singer but a metaphor for ‘creative genius’.
Pandita is the chief court musician of Chitradurga, and he is symbolic of an ordinary ‘run of the mill’ artist. Pandita is a God-fearing traditionalist, who believes that his art is for the betterment of society.
Venkanna is the exact opposite. He is a drunkard and a womanizer with a foul mouth but a God gifted singer. Pandita recognizes and resents Venkanna’s God given gift. He resents God for cheating him by bestowing his benevolence on Venkanna.