Karnataka - Shimoga   

Chronicle of theatre activities

Special Correspondent

Dharwad-based `Ranga Torana' completes 20 years

SHIMOGA: "Ranga Torana", a Kannada monthly dedicated to theatre activities in north Karnataka has been serving the cause of theatre for 20 years.

The magazine was launched on April 30, 1985 from Dharwad. Virupaksha Nayak, a veteran theatre activist, was its founder-editor. With his stage experience of three decades, he dedicated himself to the success of the magazine despite several constraints.

Born on December 27, 1927, Mr. Nayak developed love for theatre at a young age. He made a debut on stage with his performance in "Fisherman" and "Sohrab and Rustom", when he was a college student at Ranebennur in Haveri district.

His fetish for theatre took a definite shape when he came to Dharwad looking for a job in 1954. The congenial cultural atmosphere in Dharwad helped him. He was one of the founders of Karnataka Kaloddharaka Sangha, a premier organisation dedicated to the cause of theatre, in 1954.

Mr. Nayak started "Sunday School", an offshoot of the Karnataka Kaloddharaka Sangha, which was engaged in tapping innate talent among children and training them in stage activities.

He organised staging of several plays written by dramatists such Sriranga, Da. Ra. Bendra and G.B. Joshi under the banner of Karnataka Kaloddharaka Sangha.

Mr. Nayak is associated with several cultural organisations of Hubli and Dharwad. He is a member of the Dharwad Kala Kendra headed by well-known playwright Girish Karnad.

Mr. Nayak is in Shimoga to attend a function organised on behalf of his magazine at the Karnataka Sangha on Sunday.

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