Karnataka

Rangayana to host theatre festival

MYSORE: Rangayana-Theatre Repertory, which is organising various cultural programmes during Dasara celebrations, with the assistance of Dasara Festival Committee, plans various programmes to highlight the culture and tradition of the land. Navratri Theatre Festival, felicitation for the achievers in various cultural fields, a doll exhibition, an exhibition of traditional lamps, a seminar on Kannada films and an exhibition in memory of the renowned painter, Raja Ravi Varma, are the major attractions this year.

Giving details of the programme to presspersons here on Thursday, Director of Rangayana Chidambara Rao Jambe said that a nine-day theatre festival has been organised from October 12 to 20, which will be inaugurated by photographer T.S. Satyan, and Daroji Eeeramma, the noted folk artist, will be felicitated on the occasion. Rangayana will stage “Shudra Tapasvi” of Kuvempu, directed by C. Basavalingiah as the inaugural play.

Noted folk artist Ramanarasaiah from Mysore, Gidigere Ramakka Mogerthi from Mangalore, folk singer Marappa Marappa Dasaru of Koppla, agriculture expert Mallanna Nagaral from Bagalkot, education expert Ramareddy Meshtru from Kolar, social worker N.R. Nayak, folk artist from Honnavara, folk artist Lakshmamma from Hassan and social worker Gurunayaka from Gulbarga will be honoured during the theatre festival, he added.

“Muru Kaasina Sangeetha Nataka directed by Mime Ramesh, “Nenapinangalada Chittaradalli Baduku Kayuvudilla” by Geetha Montadka, “O Lear” by Jambe, “Maya Seetha Prasanga” by Ramesh Sharma, “Beechi Bullets” by P. Gangadhara Swamy, “Bucchi Daasu” by K.R. Nandini, “Devarigillen Kelasa” by Vinayaka Bhat Hasanagi and “Swatantrya Suri” by Anup Joshi would be staged from October 13 to 20. Personalities such as C. Sarvamangala, Ramadasa Adyantaya, Vijaya Sindhuvalli, Prof. P.K. Rajashekar, Srikanta Gundappa, Janardhan, Dharanidevi Malagatti, Dr. Vanaja, and Kikkeri Narayana will participate in the function.

Free passes will be issued from 10 a.m. every day, he said.

“There is a tradition of exhibiting dolls in each and every house during Dasara. Now this tradition is slowly dying out. To revive the culture, it has been decided to arrange an exhibition of dolls in Sri Ranga Auditorium of Rangayana for nine days. Those who attend the exhibition are sure to appreciate the attempt to narrate the epics through the dolls,” he disclosed.

An exhibition of traditional lamps collected by Mr. Padmanabha of Mysore in Lankesh Art Gallery would be an added attraction for those who visit Rangayana.

For the first time, a seminar on “cultural form of Kannada films” and “Cinema and social responsibility” has been arranged. The seminar will be inaugurated by Regional Censor Board Chairperson A. Chandrashekar and noted directors K.S.L. Swamy, Nagatihalli Chandrashekar, Prakash Belvadi and P. Sheshadri, who will present papers on the occasion.

Writers and journalists, including Jogi, Gangadhara Modaliyar, Kavitha Lankesh, Lingadevaru Halemane and N.S. Shankar would also be present.

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