Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Feb 8: Tulu theatre lovers spread across UAE may well remember 'Bombay Bachu' character of hit Tulu comedy play 'Oriyardori Asal' - the play created a record as the first Tulu play staged in Dubai by a professional troupe from Mangalore. And  the character was played by none other than Lion Kishore Shetty, an entrepenuer by profession, and artiste-cum-organiser by chance.

Kishore Shetty is now in Dubai to present twin comedy plays 'Oikla Yoga Bodu' and 'Dada Melpere Apundu', written by Naveen Shetty Alake and staged by Kishore Shetty-led Lakumi Troupe's 'Kusalda Kalavider' on Friday, February 10 at Nashwan Hall of Al Nasr Leasureland, Dubai.

Speaking to daijiworld, Kishore Shetty said that Tulu theatre is flourishing, and one can see bright future for this art. "In fact these days there are more Tulu plays staged compared to three or four decades back. There are 22 professional troupes spread across the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada, which itself proves the demand for Tulu plays in India and abroad," he said.

Attracted to Yakshagana art when he was in sixth standard, Kishore Shetty has acted in several Yakshangana and mythological plays since then.

"I was inspired by my mother who is a great fan of Yakshagana and used to take me along to watch Yakshagana. I was attracted towards the art and later in the year 1989 I created a group called 'Kalasangama' to promote Tulu plays. 'Jeppere Jaga Unda' was the first play staged by our troupe, written by Prakash V N, later we staged 'Onji Nimisha', a hit play that saw 42 shows, and after that we created history by staging at least 177 shows of 'Oriyardori Asal', written by Vijay Kumar Kodialbail, in India and abroad. "

"It was really memorable moment for me to lead a 12-member troupe to Dubai in 1993 to stage 'Oriyardori Asal'. Incidentally, that was the first Tulu play to be staged in Dubai by a professional team," he recalled.

"Sadly, due to some internal problems I had to stay away from leading the troupe for next 10 years. But I continued acting in mythological Tulu plays, until I came up with a new troupe called 'Lakumi' in 2003," he said.

According to Shetty, Lakumi troupe, one of the leading professional troupes from Mangalore, has so far staged 14 plays with some of mega hits like 'Anchilath - Inchilath' (over 300 plus shows), 'Ganguna Gammath' (over 250 shows), 'Nambunane Nambod', 'Benpinori - Tinpinori' (over 200 shows) and others.

He is perhaps the only organiser to lead two theatre troupes from Mangalore. Apart from Lakumi, he also leads Srilalitha troupe which has staged mythological and historical plays like 'Katilda Ullalthi' which has been presented 84 times. The troupe also staged another successful play 'Rani Abbakka'.

"In the Gulf region, there are good-hearted Tuluvas who support mythological and historical plays also. Jeppu Chidananda Naik invited us to perform 'Rani Abbakka' in Doha last year, and also pledged his support to stage the same play in Dubai later this year," he said.

And perhaps, he is only organiser who uses technology to promote his drama troupe. The Lakumi troupe has its own website www.lakumi.com with details about artistes, and so also Srilalitha troupe (www.srilalithe.com).

The actors in the troupes have great regards for Kishore Shetty. "He is not just a leader, but a friend to all us artistes. He runs the troupe professionally. We depend on Tulu theatre for our livelihood, and during rainy season we don't get many shows but still Kishore Shetty pays us. He employs his entrepenuer skills in leading the drama troupe also," says an artiste who has been with Shetty since the inception of Lakumi troupe.

"He goes out of the way to help the artistes, and helps their children too in their education, health and other basic needs. He is the president of Tulu Nataka Kalavidara Okkuta (Reg)," say the artistes who work in the Lakumi troupe.

About Dubai Show on Feb 10

Kishore Shetty is all excited about performing with his team in Dubai on Friday. "Both the plays have been well accepted by the audience all over India. We have well-known artistes, and I am sure Tulu theatre lovers from all over the UAE enjoy such dramas which are full of comedy mixed with emotions and meaningful message."

Artistes like Aravind Bolar, Sundar Rai Mada, Dharmendra Amin, Ravi Shetty Surtahkal, Suresh Manjeshwar, Vasanth V Amin, Shobha Shetty, Suresh Jodikal, Pinky Rani, Girish Shetty and writer-actor Naveen Shetty Alake.

"I am grateful to Tulu Koota Dubai and Karnoor Mohan Rai who have given us the opportunity to stage the shows here. I am sure we will perform beyond people's expectations," Shetty concludes.

Remember - Venue is Al Nasr Leisure Land, Nashwan Hall (Seats are limited)
Book your seat now - HOTLINE NUMBER : 055 5823880