Mysore/Mysuru, November 6, 2024: For nearly two decades, Rangavalli has captivated Mysore’s theater enthusiasts with its dedicated promotion of stage arts. This year, from November 7 to 10, Rangavalli presents a four-day theater festival at Kirurangamandira, Kalamandira. The festival lineup includes compelling performances such as Natyadevacharite by Sanchaya from Bangalore, A Friend Beyond the Fence (a Kannada play) by Kalabhi from Mangalore, and Shivoham by Chronicles of India, Bangalore.
The festival will be inaugurated by senior theater artist Smt. Rameshwari Varma from Mysore, with Islahuddin N.S., director of the acclaimed film Anna, as the chief guest. Satish Tipaturu, director of Rangayana, will preside over the event. After the inauguration, state award-winning artist Shri Y.M. Puttannaiah and his team will present Ranga Geetanjali, a collection of traditional theater songs.
Each evening will open with lively pre-show performances by the Mysore Police Band, light music, and a brass band, setting the stage for an immersive theater experience.
Schedule of Events
November 7, Thursday at 6 PM
Inauguration Ceremony
Venue: Kirurangamandira,
Mysore
November 7, Thursday at 7 PM
Ranga Geetanjali
Performance by State Award Winner
Y.M. Puttannaiah and team
Venue: Kirurangamandira Grounds, Mysore
The much-anticipated Rangavalli Rangasambhrama-08 State-Level Theater Festival will be inaugurated by senior theater artist Smt. Rameshwari Varma. The festival will feature notable figures in the arts and culture sector, with Islahuddin N.S., director of the acclaimed film Anna, attending as the chief guest. Additional guests include V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Joint Director of the Kannada and Culture Department, and Dr. M.D. Sudarshan, Assistant Director.
The event will be presided over by Satish Tipaturu, the director of Rangayana, underscoring the importance of this cultural gathering. Also joining the celebration will be Raviprasad H.R., a founding member and trustee of Rangavalli, and Manjunath Shastri, festival committee coordinator and treasurer. The festival promises to bring together renowned theater talent and offer audiences a rich cultural experience.
November 8, Friday at 5 PM
World-Famous Mysore Police Band
Performance by KARP Mounted Company, Mysore
Venue: Kirurangamandira Grounds, Mysore
November 8, Friday at 7 PM
Play: Natyadevacharite
Source: Molière | Kannada Adaptation: Krishna Hebbale, Hemanth Kumar | Directed by Prithvi
Venugopal Presented by Sanchaya, Bangalore.
Venue: Kirurangamandira, Mysore.
In the tradition of 17th-century French Renaissance plays, Molière, known for his unique wit, has remained beloved by audiences of all classes, from his time to the present. By following the model of characters, settings, and dramatic elements typical of comedy, Molière also served as a mirror to the social realities of his time.
The play Natyadevacharite revolves around a fraudulent religious leader who deceives a middle-class family in the name of faith. The household servant grows suspicious of the religious leader who, under the guise of spirituality, manipulates the family. Through a series of dramatic turns, his true colors are eventually revealed. This play, reportedly written by Molière to point at a particular religious organization of his era, is a satire that incisively critiques religious hypocrisy and pretense across all times and places.
November 9, Saturday at 5 PM
Sugama Sangeetha (Light Music)
Performance by Nithin Rajaram Shastri and team
Venue: Kirurangamandira Premises, Mysore
November 9, Saturday at 7 PM
Play: A Friend Beyond the Fence
Stage, Puppet Design, and Direction: Shravan Heggodu
Presented by Kalabhi, Mangalore
Venue: Kirurangamandira, Mysore
This play is based on a poignant story set in a concentration camp in Poland during the Second World War. The narrative centers on a deep bond of friendship between two innocent eight-year-old boys Alex, the son of a Nazi commander, and Ethan, a Jewish boy—despite being separated by barbed wire. A baby elephant named “Timbo,” who shares a close friendship with the Jewish boy, stands as a symbol of friendship amid the daily horrors of the camp. Renowned for his innovative theater style and puppetry, director Shravan Heggodu, acclaimed for works like Rex Hours and The Giving Tree, directs this play. Inspired by both fictional and real stories, Shravan Heggodu has crafted this play to depict the horrors inflicted on Jewish people by Nazi racial hatred, moving the audience through the perspective of two innocent children.
November 10, Sunday at 4:30 PM
Brass Band Performance
By Bharat Brass Band, Gandhinagar, Mysore
Venue: Kirurangamandira Grounds, Mysore
November 10, Sunday at 7 PM
Play: Shivoham
Design, Music, and Direction: Ganesh Mandarthi
Presented by Chronicles of India, Bangalore
Venue: Kirurangamandira, Mysore.
This is both a mythological and social play featuring two intertwined stories. One revolves around the tales of Lord Shiva, while the other focuses on a character representing Shiva in a village setting. Shiva is an ancient symbol of our land, revered by the backward community. He is known as Natashekhara, the yogi who burns desire, and also as a figure entangled in the complexities of love and family. In parallel, there is a character who embodies a revolutionary spirit and a lover lamenting lost love. The female characters challenge male arrogance and societal constraints, often triumphing in their struggles. The dreams of the character representing Shiva remain unfulfilled, reflecting the ongoing unfulfilled dreams of the backward community. Shiva exists in disarray, frequently escaping the coherence of his character, which is why this play feels both cohesive and disjointed, much like our own lives.
For more information, contact:
B. Rajesh, Secretary, Rangavalli: +91 9448871815
Manjunath Shastri, Treasurer, Rangavalli: +91 9901626701
Raviprasad, Coordinator, Rangavalli: +91 9964656482