Art aficionados taken on an odyssey

Exhibits of plays, publicity materials of sandalwood, B'wood films enrich Bahuroopi

Doyens of theatre B V Karanth and H K Yoganarasimha have left an indelible mark in the realm. To enable theatre lovers tread the path of theatre, Rangayana that turned 25 on January 14, offers a plethora of information through its photo exhibition.

The exhibition features scenes from plays, including ‘Govina Haadu’, adapted to theatre from folklore in the year the repertory saw its birth in 1989. The exhibition is part of the ongoing national theatre fest ‘Bahuroopi 2014’. Karanth who founded the repertory was known for his innate talent to adapt nature into theatre, which was how he came about the unique concept ‘Raga Saraga’. The array of photographs also threw light on ‘Veera Varase’, an acrobatic show that was first brought to stage. One can also see the many facets of ‘Shantha Mudre’ (directed by Shankarnarayan Jois); ‘Kusumabale’ (adaptation of O Kusumabale written by Devanur Mahadev); Girish Karnad’s ‘Thaledanda’; P Lankesh’s ‘Gunamukha’; and glimpses of plays directed by Prasanna, Chidambara Rao Jambe, C Basavalingaiah, all former directors of Rangayana.

Posters

As a continuity to the photo exhibition, is the exhibition of posters of Sandalwood and Hollywood works. Thespian of Kannada filmdom Dr Rajkumar comes alive here, with a majority of posters recapturing moments from mythological and historical films like ‘Bedara Kannappa’, ‘Sri Krishnadevaraya’, ‘Navakoti Narayana’, ‘Mayura’, ‘Chandrakumara’, ‘Bangarada Manushya’, ‘Santha Tukaram, and ‘Sathya Harishchandra’. Vishnuvardhan starrer ‘Bhootaiahana Maga Ayyu’ and Shankar Nag’s ‘Ondanondu Kaaladalli’ have also found place here. Charlie Chaplin’s ‘A dog’s life’ (also a first million dollar film of the actor) and ‘The Circus’; Bruce Lee’s ‘Way of the dragon’, Jack Lewis’ ‘Brothers in arms’, Peter Cusing’s ‘Dracula’ are among the Hollywood posters that adorn the walls.