Nirdiganta Utsava to be held from February 28 to March 3 in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: Nirdiganta will organise the ‘Nirdiganta Utsava,’ a theatre festival at St Aloysius Deemed to be University in Mangaluru from February 28 to March 3.

Nirdiganta is a theatre incubation centre situated in Srirangapatana. It was founded by Actor Prakash Raj.

Prakash Raj told the media, "The four-day event will see plays staged by theatre troupes, discussion by writers, workshops under the theme “Sauhardada bali: namma karavali,” to highlight the communal harmony and co existence, the region had seen over centuries, which is now being disturbed in the name of various narratives."

As a part of the utsava, a workshop on pottery, eco printing, handloom and basket weaving will also be held.

Nirdiganta Utsava will be inaugurated by St Aloysius' Vice Chancellor Rev Dr Praveen Martis.

Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority Dr Purushothama Bilimale will deliver the keynote address.

On February 28, a play For a Bite of food directed by Shakeel Ahmed will be staged by Spinning Tree Theatre, Bijapur at noon.

Yaksha Mitraru will stage an Yakshagana Koti-Chennayya at 3pm followed by a discussion on changing nature of Yakshagana by Dr Gananath Ekkaru at 4.

A jam session by St Aloysius College band will be held a 5.30 pm and a play —Gudiya Nodiranna directed by Mahadeva Hadapada by Aamata, Dharwad will be staged at 7 pm.

Itinerary for the rest of the days are given below:

On March 1: A session on languages in Coastal Karnataka by Dr Mohan Kuntar will be held at 10.30 am followed by a Konkani play Hyangan directed by Klenvin and staged by Ranga Adhyayana Kendra, St Aloysius (12 noon), Paddana by Sharada G Bangera, ‘Poviyo’ by Irene Rebello and team and Kudubi songs by Sesu Gowda Kala Trust (3 pm).

A session on “local histories and collapse of pluralistic stand” by Venkataramana Aithal will be held at 4 pm. Nirdiganta team will present ‘samatheya haadugalu’ (5.30 pm). A play ‘Kuhoo: Anthology on the rails’ directed by Arun Lal and staged by Little Earth School of Theatre, Kerala will be held at 7 pm.

On March 2—a session on “jeeva samrakshane mathu acharana loka” by Narendra Rai Derla (10.30 am), play ‘Raseedi Ticket’ directed by Savitha Rabi and to be staged by Nirdiganta (12 noon), session on ‘Karavaliya srijanasheelatheya swaroopa’ (4 pm), Koragara dolu by Savithri Bai Phule Samskritika Kalatanda, Udupi and Kudubi dance (5.30 pm) will be held. A play ‘Thindige banda Tunderaya’ directed by Shakeel Ahmed and to be staged by the Nirdiganta team will be held at 7 pm.

On March 3—Dr Indira Hegde will speak on “woman in culture of coastal area” (10.30 am), a play ‘Eedi’ (Tulu) directed by Viddu Ucchil and staged by Sumanasa, Kodavoor (12 noon), street plays ‘ Naavu yavaga badalagutheve’ by Samsara team from Puttur and ‘Eega heli... navenmadona?” by Samsara team Jodumarga will be staged at 3 pm. Viddu Uchil will speak on ‘coastal theatres’ at 4 pm. The valedictory of the utsava will be attended by Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu. A North East brass band will be an attraction at 5.30 pm, which will be followed by a play “Mai managala suliyalli” directed by Amith Reddy and to be staged by Nirdiganta.