Dubai: 'Nagamandala' Creates Magic in Front of Capacity Crowd
by Sujay Bendur - Daijiworld Media Network

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Dubai, Mar 24: Perhaps there are only a few other Kannada plays which are rated above 'Nagamandala', a masterpiece by renowned litterateur, playwright Girish Karnad. Such is the intensity and quality of the play that it takes the spectators to into another domain altogether.

The play has created waves wherever and whenever it is staged.  Be it in Karnataka or any parts of India, it has perhaps never disappointed the Kannada theatre lovers.  Like any other works of Girish Karnad, Nagamandala too has been translated into the many languages all over the globe.

So it was no wonder that it created a similar magic when it was staged at the Indian Consulate Auditorium here on Friday March 23 evening.  The jam-packed hall was the witness that Kannadigas spread across UAE did not want to miss this wonderful opportunity to view one of the greatest plays ever produced in Kannada.

Noted stage actors of UAE put up a powerhouse performance with their versatile acting.  The drama directed by none other than Prakash Payyar, a Kannada poet, actor, director who is residing in Dubai.  He has been endeavouring in the field of Kannada literature through his 'Dhwani Pratistana'.

Donalad Corea, Gopika Mayya, Prabhakar Kamath, Irene Pinto, Vishwanath Shetty, Prathima Shetty, Deepa Jagannath, Janet Sequeira, Rashmi Monohar, Shruthi, Nalini Somayyaji, Jagannath Ballare, Ashok Anchan, Rajesh, Jagdish Shetty put up a spirited display of acting and kept the audience glued to their seats to the end.

The show started at 6 pm with welcome speech by Prakash Payyar.  Manohar Thonse welcomed the guests.

On the same occasion renowned Kannada stage and film actress B Jayashree conferred with ‘Sriranga Award. The award has been given in the name of the late Dr Adya Rangacharya, founder of modern Kannada theatre who has directed more than 85 dramas and has contributed greatly to the field of literature including his books ‘Indian Theatre’ (contains history of India theatre) and ‘Natya Shastra.’ The books have been translated to several Indian languages.

Sarvotham Shetty presented a bouquet to B Jayashree while Mangala Shetty introduced B Jayashree to the gathering. She was presented with shawl, a citation, fruits and flowers by Ganesh Rai, Shekhar Shetty, Ranganath Kulkarni, James Mendonca, Satish Mayya, S S Rao and Zafrulla Khan.

Sponsors of the play Zafrulla Khan and Satish Mayya were presented with a bouquet each by Prakash Payyar and Chandra respectively.  Patrons of Sriranga Award Shekhar Shetty, Ranganath Kulkarni and Ashok Shetty were presented with bouquet by James Mendonca, S S Rao and Ganesh Rai respectively.

Well-wishers Sarvotham Shetty, president of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, James Mendonca, president of Mangalore Konkans, Ganesh Rai, former president of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha too were felicitated.

Chief guest B Jayashree, Sarvotham Shetty and Ganesh Rai delivered speech on the occasion.  Arthu Pereira Omzoor proposed the vote of thanks.

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