Bahuroopi theatre festival to kick-start today

Arrangements are in full swing, on the premises of Rangayana and also Kalamanidra in the city, for Bahuroopi, the national theatre festival, with the theme 'Migration', scheduled to begin on Sunday.

The festival will be inaugurated by Jnanpith laurate Girish Karnad at 5.30 pm at Vanaranga on Sunday. District in-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa will release a souvenir 'Bahuroopi', while Kannada and Culture department Minister Umashree will inaugurate the books exhibition and handicrafts exhibition. MP Pratap Simha, Mayor M J Ravi Kumar, former director of National School of Drama Anuradha Kapoor, Kannada and Culture Director N R Vishu Kumar and Deputy Commissioner D Randeep will participate.

Besides plays, the festival, which will conclude on January 21, will highlight folk art forms, will host seminars, book exhibition, and a food festival. Tickets will be issued for plays scheduled to be staged on Bhoomigeetha (6.30 pm), Kirurangamandira (6 pm) and Kalamandira (7.30 pm) on all the eight days. However, entry is free for the film festival at Sriranga at 10.30 am street play, and folk art forms, sponsored by Tanjavur-based South Zone Culture Centre at Kindarijogi enclosure from 5 pm, and folk songs, mallakamba, and Sufi songs recital at Vanaranga from 5.30 pm.

For the first time, Bahuroopi is being held for eight days. Earlier, it used to be a five-day feature. While nine Kannada plays will be staged, stress has been given to women's mono-acting, out of which three are in the Kannada language. Thogalu Bombeayata by Ballari-based Sri Ramanjaneya Thogalu Bombe Mela, scheduled for 7 pm on Sunday, would be a major attraction.

Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, a native of Mysuru district (Periyapatna taluk), who took charge of the Rangayana only a few months back, said that she had directed a play 'Sarasammana Samadhi' when Rangayana felicitated senior theatre persons during Akka Utsav. "As a person associated with Rangayana, this is my first event. Starting from finalising the guests, designing of the invitation card, inviting speakers for the seminars, choice of plays, all have been a challenge. The groundwork started since three months. I am eager to see the event unfurl," she said.

'Fest, treat for people'

"Bahuroopi is a treat for the people, especially theatre enthusiasts, for the Sankranthi festival. It is an attempt to connect our programmes with the current affairs and the issues affecting the society and the people. As the theme is 'Migration', the selection of movies and the issues for the seminar revolve around it," said Rangayana Joint Director V N Mallikarjuna Swamy.

"The state government has sanctioned Rs 60 lakh for the festival and it is being held with the sponsorship of Lalithakala Academy, Chalanachitra Academy, and Canara Bank. Theatre troupes from various states are participating. 'Yuva Spandana' a programme of folk art has been specially designed for youth. As per our tradition of Sankranthi, 'ellu-bella' will be distributed among artistes from Delhi, Mumbai, Puducherry, Bihar, Manipur, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala," he said.

Plays

Rangayana-Mysuru troupe will stage two plays - 'Muvaru Akka Thangiyaru' at 6.30 pm on Sunday and 'Chirebandi Vaade' on January 19. Rangayana-Dharwad will stage 'Srirama Paduka Pattabhisheka' at 7.30 pm at Kalamandira on January 19.

M P Ohila, a researcher on theatre as a tool for communication, said that there is too much of stress on Kannada language, which results in the lack of variety. "The selection of the theme 'Migration' is very much relevant at a time when we had to face a dilemma on providing refuge to Rohingyas from Myanmar. However, not many plays reflect the theme," she said. Her subject of research is 'Role of Theatre in Tackling Social Problems: A Case Study on Theatre Performances in Mysuru City'.