Plays from grassroots
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The just concluded Bahuroopi festival of Rangayana in Mysore, chose agriculture for its theme this year
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PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
CULTURAL RESPONSEMost of the plays also revolved around the crisis of the agrarian community
Connoisseurs of culture, especially from film, theatre and folklore from various parts of country eagerly wait for Bahuroopi, the national theatre festival, hosted by Rangayana, every December. Along with a theatre festival, Rangayana also conducts film festival, folk performances, street plays and an exhibition of books and handicrafts. This festival which reminds one of village shandies, as writer Jayant Kaikini put it, facilitates an interaction between various spheres of knowledge.
Rangayana, an active facilitator of a cultural movement for the last 15 years, has organised many memorable events, which have become milestones in cultural history.
Each year, the Bahuroopi festival has a theme. This year, it was Culture-Agriculture, considering the plight of the farming community in the country. Indian culture has its roots in agriculture what with the so many folk arts and folk songs that have emerged from the agrarian community. For Rangayana, the major exodus of the rural community into urban areas is ominous.
Those who participated in the week long festival felt Rangayana succeeded in achieving its purpose. Street plays with stress on agrarian crisis were staged in 39 mandal panchayats. Plays were taken to every locality. Habba Haadodu, Hoovinakolu, Jokumaraswamy, Gondaligara Aata folk forms have become a tool in community building exercise.
The Gotipua dance tradition from Orissa became a big hit among those who came to the festival. Similar was the response to Tamasha and Lavani of Maharashtra and Terataali of Rajastan. People who congregated at the festival relished not only the cultural events, but also satisfied their taste buds at Bahuruchi, which had food items from various parts of the State.
The two-day national symposium on Culture and Agriculture deliberated over various issues including, "Understanding of Agriculture and Culture in the Changing circumstances", "Concept of Seed Technology and Cultural Shift in the Agrarian Society", "Water Crisis and Agrarian Surveillance", and others. A proponent of zero cultivation and natural farming, Subhash Palekar, Missionary in promoting Water Culture, Rajendra Singh and many other agriculture scientists and farmers participated in the seminar and discussed the problem being confronted by farming sector at length. The presentations were followed by a healthy discussion.
There was a film festival apart from the plays. "Namo Venkatesha", a song that was used to lure people to the theatres was played yet again, rendering many old-timers nostalgic. The film festival too focussed on culture and agriculture. Films including Chigurida Kanasu of Nagabharana, Bara of M.S. Sathyu, Do Bigha Zameen of Bimal Roy, Aghanishani Mattu Makkalu of Kesari Harvoo, Food for Thought of David Attenborough, Future of Food by Debra Koon Garcia, and Bunarman of Branco. Each of the films were followed by an interaction which helped in sharpening one's understanding of the films.
The theatre festival also focused various problems being faced by farming communities after policy makers enforcing the Green Revolution unmindful of its impact. Boma directed by Badal Sarkar recorded our negligence towards the agrarian society and a lifestyle that it accompanied. The play was dedicated to the memory of destitute farmers who committed suicides in the country. Raj Rakth by Habib Tanveer depicted tussle between religious and secular authority. Saav Amaari Jaat Alag staged by Ahmedabad Theatre Group focused about the deep divide between two communities. There were many other plays that extended a new experience to viewers. In a theatre appreciation workshop, resource persons, T.P. Ashoka and Jayant Kaikini spoke on how to appreciate a play in the context of Ranga Smrithi.
Director of Rangayana, Chidambara Rao Jambe said: "Bahuroopi cannot address every problem of rural society, but sensitising the urban community will help in achieving long term results."
MURALIDHARA KHAJANE
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