By Rons Bantwal
Bengaluru, Sep 15: As part of the monthly drama festival organized by the Karnataka Nataka Academy, Bengaluru, the play “Choukatinacheya Chitra” will be presented at the Kalagrama Complex Hall in Mallathahalli, Bengaluru, this coming Saturday (Sep. 20) at 6 pm.
The play, which portrays the struggles and stories of the transgender community, has been written and directed by Mumbai’s renowned theatre personality Sa. Daya (Dayanand). The programme will be held under the presidency of Karnataka Nataka Academy Chairman Dr K V Nagarajamurthy, with theatre organiser V M Nagesh (popularly known as Chaddi Nagesh) attending as the month’s guest.
The play will be managed by Kannada Kala Kendra Mumbai president Madhusoodan T R. Stage lighting is designed by Sa. Daya himself, costumes by Nayana Salyan and Geeta Devadiga, art and stage properties by Ganesh Kumar, music by Divakar Katil, stage design by Viddu Uchchil, and stage management by Manohar Shetty Nandalike and Poornima Madhusoodan T.R. The play is supported by Ramanu Graha Caterers, with coordination by Shashi Kiran and Sushma Acharya. Makeup will be handled by Manjunath Shettigar.
Including Madhusoodan T R, a total of 20 senior and junior artistes will enact 32 different roles. Both on stage and behind the scenes, 27 members are engaged in the production. Kannada Kala Kendra Mumbai has appealed to theatre lovers to attend in large numbers and encourage the troupe.
At present, Bengaluru coordinator Jayalakshmi Patil, Karnataka Nataka Academy’s program coordinators GPO Chandru and Jagadish Jaal, Academy Registrar (in charge) N. Namrata, along with all members, have extended a warm welcome to the theatre artists.
For the past seventy years, Kannada Kala Kendra in Mumbai has been a prestigious institution organizing drama festivals, theatre workshops, award ceremonies, and various art, literary, and cultural programs. The center has already staged over 550 plays, more than 75 Yakshagana performances, numerous dance and music programs, and over 10 theatre training workshops. Following the grand success of “Bisilu Beladingalu” staged at the Sagara Theatre Festival in February this year, the institution is now adding another feather to its cap.
On the same evening, a dialogue will also be held between the artists of “Choukatinacheya Chitra” and Padmashali, a noted activist for sexual minority rights and the founder of Ondede organisation, the organisers stated.