Rangayana adapts 'Ramayana Darshanam' to theatre

The artistes of Rangayana repertory will stage a play based on poet laureate Kuvempu’s magnum opus ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ in the city from November 14 to 18.

The tickets for the play in Halegannada (Old Kannada) to be staged at 6 pm at Rangayana, are available for Rs 50 (can also be booked online).

Addressing a press meet at Rangayana, Kannada and Culture Department Director N R Vishukumar said, “Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Kannada and Culture Minister Jayamala will inaugurate the four-and-a-half hours play ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ at Ravindra Kalashetra in Bengaluru on November 23 and the show will be repeated on November 24. Later, the play will be staged across Karnataka till January 2019”.

He said, “Seventy artistes from across Karnataka will be part of the play. It is being staged to mark the golden jubilee year of ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ getting the Jnanpith award.” Vishukumar said, “On November 13, Ganjifa artist Ganapathy Bhat will exhibit 12 of his creations while H K Dwaraknath will display the stage designs of Sri Ramayana Darshanam”. He said Jagadisha Manevarthe and Krishnakumar Naarkaje have adapted ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ to the theatre. K G Mahabaleshwar has directed it. National School of Drama teacher Umesh Salian is the assistant director. Ravi Mururu has scored the music. Srinivas Bhat (Cheeni) has composed the music.

Critic G H Nayak, who released the poster of the play, said, “The theatrical adaptation of Kuvempu’s ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam’ by Rangayana is history. It is a new experiment in theatre. Rangayana has adapted several works to the theatre since the times B V Karanth. It has already staged Kuvempu’s another work ‘Malegalalli Madumagalu’ successfully”. Rangayana Director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam was present.