MYSORE: It is time for connoisseurs of theatre and critics to asses the potential of the present generation theatre and television artistes as Sri Sahitya Samrajya Nataka Mandali of M.V. Subbaiah Naidu, the doyen of Kannada theatre, is all set to stage "Kakana Kote", a play by Masti Venkatesha Iyengar at Kalamandira on May 21.

According to Girija Lokesh, the play is being staged to mark the 60th birth anniversary of her husband, theatre and film artiste Lokesh, who also acted as Kaka Nayaka in the play directed by C.R. Simha about 30 years ago.

Kakana Kote, which is about 73 km from Mysore, is a thick forest range in the Western Ghats region. It is named after the legendary Kaka Nayaka, who was the leader of the local forest-dwelling Jenu Kuruba community.

Impressed by Kaka Nayaka's bravery and wit, the then Maharaja of Mysore named the forest after him.

`Nataranga' first staged the play in the seventies. Lokesh, son of Subbaiah Naidu, then a budding artiste, donned the role of Kaka.

Ms. Lokesh also acted in the subsequent productions of the play. In fact, it was this play that brought them together and they got married later. Inspired by the success of the play, Mr. Simha also made it into a film, which received many awards. The film unveiled the life of Jenu Kurubas to urban society.

After the movie was made, the play lost its charm and it was restricted to college theatre festivals.

However, this endeavour by Ms. Lokesh is sure to provide new experience, as her son Srujan Lokesh is directing the play.

Noted television artistes Suchendra Prasad, Megha, Srinath Vasisht and Purnendra will act in the play. Artistes such as K.S. Aswath, Rathnakar and Rajashekara Kadamba will be felicitated.

Ms. Lokesh has plans to stage the plays in which Lokesh had acted by organising a theatre festival. To start with the festival will be held in Bangalore in October.

Ms. Lokesh regrets that people have totally forgotten the contribution of Subbaiah Naidu and Lakshmibai to Kannada cinema and theatre and there has been no attempt by the Government to construct an auditorium in his name.

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