Tulu Theatre Festival held in Delhi

Delhi Tulu Siri organised 'Delhi Tulu Ranga Parba', a Tulu Theatre Festival, here yesterday.

Former union minister and Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, who participated in the festival, said that the event is a great endeavour by the organisation to remind our traditional value and culture through the plays.

He said the richness of regional subculture can be kept alive and passed on from generation to generation by this kind of cultural activities which may impact especially in metro cities.

Ranga bhoomi, Udupi, which is celebrating 50 years of its establishment, presented 'Nagamandala', a famous play of Girish Karnad.

The play was translated to Tulu language by Dr. Kathyayini Kunjibettu.

Sumanasa Kodavoor presented a historically important play 'Koti Chennaya' written by senior Tulu litterateur Janaki Brahmavar. Koti Chennayya portrayed life in coastal Karnataka in the sixteen century. Both plays were acclaimed by the audience.

The Tulu theatre festival was organised in the memory of Late U. Prabhakara Rao, a great theatre personality, who had made a significant contribution to the field of drama through 'Kannada Bharati'.

President of Delhi Tulu Siri, Dr. Y. Avanindranath Rao, said that this is the first time a festival of this kind was organised in capital city. Nearly 50 Tulu drama artists from coastal Karnataka performed in the event.

Member of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Akademi, Vasanth Shetty Bellare, said the Akademi has encouraged the organization of Tulu activities outside Karnataka.

Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Rural Development Dr. Prasanna V. Salian, who was the chief guest, spoke on the occasion.

Directors of various plays Raviraj H.P, Balakrishna Kodavoor, Pradeep Chandra Kuthpady, Prakash G.Kodavoor, M.S.Bhat and Ganesh Rao Yelluru were felicitated during the occasion.