Dubai: 24th Anniversary Celebrations of Dhwani Pratishtana held in Style
Report: Shodhan Prasad
Pics: Sujay Bendore
Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai (SP)
Dubai, Jun 27: The 24th annual celebrations of Dhwani Pratishthana were held at Nashwan Hall, Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai on Friday June 26. Dhwani Prathisthana is an organization that promotes the essence of Kannada theatre and literature in UAE.
It was 24 years ago in the year 1985 that Dhwani Prathisthana took birth in Mumbai and kept the essence of Kannada theatre alive throughout and then moved its operations to Dubai in the year 2004, where it continued with its activities. Prakash Rao Payyar, a poet, director and promoter of Kannada is the key person behind this organization. With the contribution and support of the likeminded people in UAE, he has been able to keep his mission intact. The Pratishtana has been conducting various activities in this country for the past many years.
To grace the function, several dignitaries from the state of Karnataka were invited and they promptly and wholeheartedly accepted the invitation and came from India to take part in the function.
They are, president of Karnataka Nataka Academy Dr B V Rajaram, Kannada cine director and national award winner T S Nagabharana and his wife Naginibharana and Dr C Somashekar.
The guests were offered a traditional welcome. The chief guests were then invited to the stage along with Janab Zafarullah Khan of Zain International, Sarvotham Shetty, president of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Udayakumar Kateel of Maxell International, Ashok Kumar Shetty of Mubarak General Trading, James Mendonza of Reliable Fabricators, David Frank Fernandes of Mosac Shipping, Praveen Kumar Shetty and Ravish Gowda of Fortune Hotel, Noel Almeida, president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, Santosh Nazareth, president of Mangalore Konkans, Mark Denis, Fortuna Engineering and Krishna Muniswamy of Sri Ram Properties. The names of Shekar Shetty of Arab Udupi Restaurant and Kulkarni of Emirates Scaffolding were also called out but they were not present at the function. The main sponsor of the day was Zafarulla Khan of Zain International Group of Hotels, Dubai.
The programme started with the prayer rendered by Niveditha. She was provided accompaniment by Arun Carlo on the background instruments. This was followed by lighting the lamp by the chief guests on stage and welcome address.
The main attraction of the day was the eagerly awaited experimental drama written by the great personality Girish Karnad, titled ‘Vodakalu Bimba’. The mono act play tells the story of Manjula Nayak, a professor of English literature, who turns out to be an unsuccessful writer in Kannada. She finds international acclaim when she writes a novel in English, which becomes a bestseller. The story starts with her introducing the audience to her novel in a TV studio, prior to a film on it is telecast. After she finishes her introduction, she is confronted by her own image on the screen, which poses questions on the betrayal of her language and identity for choosing to write in English. The unique one act play was very well portrayed on the stage, by the famous Gopika Mayya, who held the audience spellbound for ninety minutes with her superb acting and dialogue delivery.
The reflection was also portrayed by herself on the screen and was supported by Sarvotham Shetty. Gopika Mayya proved her talent in front of over 200 audiences, who gave a good round of applause in appreciation. The drama was directed by Prakash Rao Payyar, chief coordinator.
The second part of the programme was a Kuchipudi dance performance by Nagini Bharana, one of the guests and it was great to see this lady performing lively.
Later, T S Naghabaharana, Naginibharana, Dr C Somashekar and Dr B V Rajaram were felicitated by draping a shawl around them and presenting flower, fruits, memento and citation. The guests thanked the organization for having invited and honoured them.
The sponsors were then called on the stage and presented with a bouquet each. Gopika Mayya was also invited on stage and honoured. Dinesh and Sujay Bendore, who had extended support in the technical side of the programme, were also honoured.
Dr B V Rajaram presented a mime, which was very much enjoyed by the audience. Later, the husband-wife duo of Nagabharana and Naginibharana along with Rajaram rendered folk songs.
The event was very well organized by Anand Bailoor, Padmaraj Yekkar, Ganesh Kulal, Roshan Arthur Pereira, Gururaj, Thimmappa Poojary, Sampath Shetty, Satish Poojary, Shodhan Prasad, Rajesh Kuthaar, Niveditha, Smita Sujay, Sahana, Bhagya Das, Krishnamurhty, Ajay Shyam, Prakash R, Santosh Poojary, Madhusoodhan, Sridhar Lade, Sadan Daas, Vimala Shetty and Gopika Mayya who are all enthusiastic members of Dwani Prathisthana UAE.
Sampath Shetty proposed vote of thanks.
The whole show was ably drafted, directed and smoothly compered by the one and only Ganesh Rai, an artiste who handled it in his unique way in pure Kannada
The programme concluded at around 10 pm.