The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bonanza for theatre lovers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bonanza for theatre lovers

Staff Reporter

Plays such as ‘Bangaraam’ will be performed
The performances are being held at NMKRV College

Bangalore: Theatre lovers in the city are in for a treat with 400 students from 18 universities coming from all over the country to perform 13 plays at a two-week festival here.

The Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Karnataka Nataka Academy and Bangalore University have jointly organised the “All India Universities’ Theatre Festival 2007”.

On offer at the festival are Kannada plays which have been translated into other regional languages. “The goal is not only to entertain people but also to make them develop critical ideas and understand the philosophy of art and life,” said the organisers.

The festival was flagged off on September 17 with noted playwright Girish Karnad’s play, “Nagamandala” performed in Gujarati. It has since been drawing 300 people every day. The other plays coming up include “Bangaraam” by Venugopal Kasaragodu in Kannada; “Bhootaramar Sapon” and “Jokumaraswamy” by Chandrashekara Kambara in Assamese and Tamil respectively and “Parathen” by P. Lankesh in Hindi.

“Language is no barrier in this field. Even if someone does not understand the language, the beauty of the medium of theatre is in its ability to convey the message effortlessly to anyone,” said Vadivel Thambiran Armugam, the director of the play “Angiyum Mazhaiyum”.

“Drama is given such little importance even though it is such an affective medium. Theatre should be recognised as an honourable profession rather being looked down upon,” said one of the actors.

This programme is simultaneously being held in Mysore. You can catch the plays every evening at 7 p.m. at NMKRVCollege, until Saturday.

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