Wadiyar heritage: Doctoral thesis fills gap in Kannada drama research

A researcher with a family theatre legacy has conducted a research on the cultural heritage of the Wadiyar dynasty as depicted in modern Kannada plays. She has got a doctorate from the University of Mysore (UoM) for her thesis, based on her research. S B Kavitha, whose grandfather and father acted in plays, was interested in knowing how the Wadiyars are depicted on stage and how it is relevant at present and thus she conducted the research.

Kavitha, a researcher at the UoM took up a comprehensive study to map the cultural heritage of the Wadiyar dynasty as depicted in modern Kannada plays, filling a significant gap in the academic research regarding the royal family's literary representation.

Kavitha, Department of Kannada, Maharaja College, UoM, got the PhD degree for her thesis titled ‘Aadhunika Kannada Natakagallali Mysurina Sanskrutika Parampare’ (Cultural Heritage of Mysuru in Modern Kannada Plays) for the research conducted under the guidance of professor K Thimmaiah. The study analyses 22 plays to decode the political, social, and economic administration of the Mysuru Kingdom spanning nearly 400 years.

Kavitha said, “While there are abundant studies on the historical and mythological plays in Kannada, there was a ‘curious absence’ of research specifically focusing on the history of the Mysuru Wadiyars in plays. Moreover, no research had been done on the Wadiyar period in Kannada plays".

Mirror to modern politics

She said, “The study reveals that the plays, though historical, serve as a mirror to present-day political realities. In Samsa’s ‘Vigada Vikramaraya’, the depiction of the Dalavoys’ (commanders) oppression, greed for power and corruption in the past reminds us of the current social system. It gives a complete picture of how they plotted, killed kings and confused citizens with taxes”.

Samsa takes the lead

Professor Thimmaiah said, the research depends heavily on the works of Samsa, regarded as the first historical playwright in Kannada. “Among the 22 plays reviewed, six were penned by Samsa – Vigada Vikramaraya, Birudantembaraganda, Suguna Gambhira, Mantrashakti, Bettadarasu, and Vijayanarasimha - known for his regards for the Wadiyar dynasty. The study also covers works by Lingadevaru Halemane (Chikkadevabhoopa, Hyder, Antembaraganda, Shaapa), Girish Karnad (Tippu Sultan Kanda Kanasu), Gopalakrishna (Ranadheera), Addanda C Cariappa (Tippuvina Nijakanasugalu), H S Shivaprakash (Sultan Tipu), and Masti Venkatesha Iyengar (Kakanakote).

Samsa, A N Swamy Venkatadri Iyer (1898-1939), was a 20th-century Kannada historical playwright known for his plays on Mysuru’s heritage.

Interestingly, Kavitha found that while political and economic messages are dominant, specific ‘cultural’ descriptions — such as the Dasara festivities — are limited in the plays.

Personal connection

For Kavitha, the subject is personal. “My grandfather S M Basappa used to act in plays, and my father S B Basappa continued that. While others went to watch movies, I used to watch plays at Kalamandira," she said, adding that plays convey messages to the society more effectively than cinema.