A play of emotions

The Kannada play ‘Yugantara’ based on Gokak’s work from the pre-Independence era and directed by Badigera was presented at  ‘Amma-75’ theatre festival at Kalagrama, Mallathahalli, by actors from Natana School of Theatre Arts, Mysuru.

 “I doubt most people know that Jnanapith Award-winning Kannada writer V K Gokak scripted a play too,” says theatre director Manjunatha L Badigera, adding, “Most great writers’ works, if not all, surpass the limits of time, which, many of us would agree, is what makes them great in the real sense.”

“Gokak’s play is centred on a Marxist Mrunalini and a more open-minded Kosalendra, who are youngsters in North India, in the period before Indian Independence. Although both tread different paths initially, they set their sights on finding what one would call the true meaning of life, which only proves to be a factor for their paths to meet,” Manjunatha said.

The actors were shown to be novices, but, much to the credit of director Manjunatha, the body language of the artistes reflected a sheer lack of stage fright or consciousness. 

“I always prefer to keep the costume and sets in my plays specific to the scene rather than adding unnecessary stuff on stage. I followed the same rule in ‘Yugantara’. Ironically, quite a few people among the audience told me the look of the play was a sharp contrast ‘dance-based’ body language of the actors,” laughed the director.

The use of music by music director Bhargava K N was bang on. Although the play has the story of a Marxist, the only time that loudness stepped in was when the supporting actors introduced the scene with a shout of slogans. Otherwise, the music was pleasant.

Lighting designer Madhusudhan V D created the right mood for the ‘at times conflicting and at times silent’ feel of the play. Also, the absence of harsh lights reflected the director’s desire to keep away from a violent mood.