BANGALORE: As an extension of its prestigious annual "Bharatiya Ranga Mahotsava," the National School of Drama Regional Resource Centre (Bangalore) will hold a fortnight-long Gubbi Veeranna National Theatre Festival from January 4 to 18 in Bangalore.

Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, who is closely associated with the theatre activities in the State for three decades, told presspersons here on Monday that Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh will inaugurate the festival in which over 20 plays will be staged.

Although the festival is being held in Bangalore, a competent and experienced director from every district in the State will be invited to participate in the event. The objective of holding special interaction sessions with the veteran and young playwrights, artistes and technicians and seminars on various aspects of the regional and overseas theatres at the festival is to invite suggestions for the benefit of Kannada theatre and help launch a new theatre movement in the State, he said.

NSD Regional Director Suresh Anagalli said the school has sanctioned Rs. 20 lakhs for the purpose and the State Government has no financial commitment in holding the festival. The Karnataka Nataka Academy will have to bear a part of expenses that will not come under the purview of the NSD as a matter of policy, he said. Asked about the reported allegations that the NSD's attitude to the State has been biased on many counts, including grants for holding programmes, Mr. Anagalli said he will draw the attention of those concerned to the issue. Many big names of Kannada theatre, including Mr. Prakash, noted filmmaker T.S. Nagabharana, Nataka Academy president Srinivas G. Kappanna, playwrights K. Marulasiddappa and Siddalinga Pattanashetty, who were present at the press conference, said they were disappointed with the attitude of the NSD towards the State in many respects.

Mr. Kappanna said despite financial constraints, the academy has decided to bear an expenditure of Rs. 2.5 lakhs in the interest of promoting the theatre. In case of exigencies the academy will seek additional grants from the State, he added.

Over 20 plays are expected to be staged at three venues during the festival. An entry fee of Rs. 49 and Rs. 30 per show will be charged.

The venue, date and the plays are: Ravindra Kalakshetra — January 4 to 11, "Peking Opera" (Chinese), 8.30 p.m.; "Jhulva" (Marathi, directed by Vamana Kendre), "Katha Collage" (Hindi, Nasiruddin Shah), "Nine Hills One Valley" (Manipuri, Rathan Thiayam), "Apeksha" (Assamese, Baharul Islam), "Dreams of Peach Blossoms" (Nepalese by Sunil Pokharel), "Ladki Seedi Rahegi" (Hindi, Royston Abel) and "Sati" (Assamese, Gunkar Devgoswami) all at 7.30 p.m. ADA Rangamandira: Janaury 5: "Antim Adhyay", "Flying Cranes" and "Homage" (Hindi-cum-English, Narendra Sharma); January 6: "Sonai Bibir Pala" (Bengali, Kamaluddin Neelu). JSS Auditorium from January 9 to 18 at 6.30 p.m.: "Dark Horse" (English, Gowri Ramnarayan), "Porukki" (Tamil, Shanmugaraja), "Who Are We?" (Manipuri, Sarungbam Biren), "Hum Dono" (Hindi, Dinesh Thakur), "Bahaddur Maa" (Hindi, M.K. Raina), "Kanan Pisar Japomala" (Bengali, Suranjandas Gupta), "Gotraheen" (Bengali, Rudraprasad Sengupta), "Maaya" (Malayalam, K.N. Panickar), "Apsare" (Kannada, Chidambara Rao Jambe) and "Odakalu Bimba" (Kannada, Girish Karnad and K.M. Chaitanaya).

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