Rangayana seeks more support for theatre fest

The multi-faceted theatre extravaganza, 'Bahuroopi-2014', is drawing big crowds at its venue in Rangayana in Mysore. The 14th edition of the week-long national theatre festival has 'Sufi-Santh-Samarasya' (Sufi-saint-harmony) as its theme this year with an emphasis on harmony through the stage.

The annual festival inaugurated by CM Siddaramaiah on January 14 has been showcasing features of theatre. It concludes on January 20.

Rangayana has stage 80 plays so far.

Incidentally, the state repertory, 'Nataka Karnataka Rangayana', conceputalised by veteran stage artist B V Karanth and established by the Karnataka Government, is on its silver jubilee year. During these 25 years, it has become an effective platform for theatre atistes, both amateurs and veterans, in Karnataka. It has been conducting a series of theatre-related activities. It has staged about 80 plays so far.

This year's 'Bahuroopi' festival is offering a bouquet of events - plays by 17 theatre troupes from different parts of the country, and Nepal, folk performances, martial arts, Sufi songs, theatre songs, prestigious films of different languages, including from Turkey, Romania, Germany and Spain, symposia on Sufism, and photo, art and poster exhibitions.

Around 60 stalls are promoting 'desi' products, like organic foods, handloom fabrics, among others, besides books.

Rangayana director Janardhan (Jenny) says 'Bahuroopi' will cost Rs 35 lakh this year, but they are working on a very limited budget. He gives a breakdown of expenses and says each drama troupe has to be paid Rs 2 lakh and that alone comes up to Rs 34 lakh for the 17 participating troupes. Around 350 people are engaged in the various works and daily wages come to Rs 10 lakh. Besides, other arrangements cost Rs 10 lakh. The government support is far from adequate.

"The stage activites are not mechanical programmes. They are creative activities that make a long-lasting harmonising impact on the people. The state government, therefore, should be generous and grant at least Rs 60-70 lakh to make the prestigious national theatre festival an international one," Jenny told Business Standard, adding that Rangayana would approach the government for a higher allocation for next year's festival.

Janaradhan laments that dance, drama and music departments, and fine arts colleges in universities were doing very little in generating new talent, though they have good infrastructure, facilities and UGC pay scales, unlike Rangayana. "There seems to be a stagnation;" he remarks, suggesting that there should be a tie-up between these colleges and Rangayana.

As to response to the ongoing programmes, the director said: "Mysore is a city of culture. Our programmes contribute to this character and hence are accepted by the people. They are coming in large numbers and watching the programmes with interest and enthusiasm."