A cop's interlude with theatre

Employees of various government departments mostly restrict themselves to their work with hardly any other avocation.

However, there are a few, who besides their daily grind, also engage themselves in other activities. M C Vishwanath, a constable in Chintamani Rural police station is one among them. He has an abiding interest in poetry literature and theatre.

Interests

While he has a friendly approach in the maintenance of law and order, he has also developed a keen interest in literature and culture. He has acted in a number of plays and serials.  He hails from Maliappanahalli of Vemgal hobli of Kolar taluk and posted as constable.

“My interest in theatre was nurtured from a young age by his father Chikkamuniyappa, mother Venkatamma and elder brother, Dr Muninarayan” he says.

With a postgraduate degree and a D Ed qualification to his credit he continued his interest in literature and theatre.

‘Playing’ it all

He performed a number of roles in folk, social and mythological plays.  “I have acted in 21 plays which have been staged in the state and outside the state”, he says.

Some of the plays include Raja Satyavrata, Bheemaghatotkajara Kalaga, Sastrasanyasa and Sangoli Rayanna have been staged over 40 times. He has written short stories and children’s stories some of which have been publishes in newspapers.

He conducts workshops on stage craft and literature in schools and colleges. Some of the students he has trained have also won prizes in competitions.

Music as well

Some of the poetry he has written has been set to music and has been recorded as audio CDs and will be released soon. He, along with his brother Dr Muninarayan, has established Vishwa Sanskritik Mathu Samajik Abdhivrudhi Samsthe, through which he renders service in the field of culture.