BANGALORE: Sri Shivakumara Kalasangha, a cultural wing of Taralabalu Samsthana, is all set to observe the golden jubilee of the State's formation by holding a nine-day theatre festival on the theme "Come, let us build a new life abjuring violence and deception." The festival will be held at its open-air theatre at Saanehalli in Hosadurga taluk of Chitradurga district from November 1. Taralabalu Swamiji Sri Panditaradhya Shivacharya told presspersons here on Wednesday that a book release, a vachana recital, concerts, seminars on education and literature and felicitation of State award-winning film artiste Pavithra Lokesh would also mark the festival.

Many dignitaries such as Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Home Minister M.P Prakash and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil would participate in the event. The prestigious Sri Shivakumara theatre award would be presented to P.G. Gangadharaswamy of the Mysore-based Rangayana on the concluding day, he said.

Explaining the importance of holding the festival in an obscure village with 300 inhabitants, the swamiji said the pioneer of modern Kannada theatre, the late C.G. Krishnaswamy, had encouraged and supported the Taralabalu math in establishing its own theatre repertory at Saanehalli. As a result, Sri Shivakumara Kalasangha (Shivasanchara is its touring wing) was formed. It had till now performed 1,200 shows of over 20 plays across the State in nine years.

Krishnaswamy, just before his death, had suggested that the math hold an international theatre festival. It was strange that Krishnaswamy, a communist, was destined to die at Saanehalli and is buried on the premises of the math, he said.

Theatre troupes such as Shivasanchara, Shivakumara Kalasangha, Ninasam, B.V. Karanth Rangapratishtaana, Karnataka Sangha (Bombay), Central Arts Club Vellore (Kerala), Seagal Theatre (Assam) and Centre for Asian Theatre (Bangladesh) will stage 12 plays during the festival. The plays to be staged are Bhelu Sundari (Bangla), Jeevana Charitram (Malayalam), Gadhora Nritya (Assamese), Divyambari, Ambe, Odalaala, Birugaali, Odalugondava Hasiva, Undaadi Gunda, Taavarekereli Taalikattokkoline?, Iva Nammava and Ankusha (Kannada).

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