'Mooru Muthu' Kannada Play Captures UAE Audience
Report by Shodhan Prasad
Pics by Jovin Dsouza Pangla
Daijiworld Media Network - UAE
Dubai, Jun 27: Late K Balakrishna Pai’s ‘Roopakala Nataka Mandali’s’ most acclaimed Kannada comedy family drama ‘Mooru Muthu’ directed by Satish Pai really rocked Dubai and created history by itself. It was unbelievable even the Bollywood stars would not have got that much of response as for the first time more than 200 unfortunate drama lovers of Dubai had to return back heavy hearted from the closed gate due non availability of space with overwhelming crowd jam packed at the Emirates English School Auditorium, Dubai at around 4.30 pm yesterday.
Though the drama was scheduled at 4.30 pm we could see the people flocking from 3.30 pm onwards. By 4 pm the whole auditorium was uncontrollable so as to the organizer had to close the main gate. This kind of tremendous response for a Kannada Drama that too from a small place called Kundapur was really unexpected. More than 800 people fully loaded in the theatre from all sides, were bursting into laughter in spite of the burning atmosphere within the hall. The additional Air coolers installed by the organizers did not make much difference as far as the heat was concerned. However the intoxication of the cultural programme lovers did not really mind the situation.
The drama which has made history with successful record number of shows elsewhere in India again broke the record in Dubai with the following history:
1) It is the first time that a Kannada Comedy Drama of this kind is presented in Dubai
2) It is the first time that an Indian Ambassador to UAE attended and witnessed the full Kannada drama programme.
3) It is the first time that an Indian Parliamentarian dignitary attended and witnessed a Kannada drama in Dubai.
4) It is the first time that a Karnataka Government leader attended and witnessed a Kannada drama programme in Dubai.
5) It is the first time that Roopakala Nataka Mandali’ troupe made an entry into Dubai
6) It is the first time that Pravin Shetty and Fortune Hotel fully presenting a drama in Dubai
7) It is the first time that a small troupe hailing from Kundapur presenting a house full show in Dubai.
Before the drama the programme started with some very beautiful numbers of the South Indian famous singer Ravindra Prabhu, who is also called as Junior SP Balasubramaniam and Junior Dr. Raj Kumar. He gave some melodious mix of filmy, folk and devotional songs which mesmerized the people with his rich voice. He interacted with the audience with quick quiz and prize. His voice floated around the auditorium like the waves of sea, hitting each corner of the wall and took the music lovers on a journey to dream land. Sampath Shetty ably conducted this part of the programme in the opening up and introduced Ravindra Prabhu to the audience with interview session.
Rajya Sabha MP, Oscar Fernandes with his wife Blossom Fernandes, Indian Ambassador to UAE, H.E. Lokesh, Dy. Chairman of NRI Cell, Karnataka, Captain Ganesh Karnik & Padmashree Awardee Dr. B.R. Shetty were the Chief Guests who opened up the programme with lighting the traditional lamp. Ravindra Prabhu’s devotional song during the lighting the lamp gave a beautiful touch to the occasion that it really invited the Almighty. All the Guests were felicitated on the stage with flower bouquet, shawl, mementos and gifts. The director of the Play Satish Pai was honoured and felicitated by the dignitaries with Flowers, Shawl, Mementos and Gifts. He rendered a touching speech in return to the felicitation and thanked Pravin Shetty for giving them a life time opportunity. All the sponsors and well wishers including Media were called upon on the stage and honoured with Mementos.
With the beautiful erected stage setting, Roopkala Nataka Mandali’s maiden venture in the Gulf ‘Mooru Muthu’ a evergreen super hit drama started with a big applaud by the audience for a 3 hours tour. Superb acting skills by all the actors who put their life and soul into presenting such a tremendous rib tickling comedy play which mesmerized the audience who did not even realize the time. The credit should go to the director Satish Pai who had full command on his troupe. It was like a family affair for him as he shared the stage with his own brother Santosh Pai who made the crowd crazy with his brilliant performance as deaf. They were supported by various other enthusiastic co-actors along with Ashok Shanbhag. On the whole it was a different kind of drama which was a blend of real comedy, tilting music, tickling dialogues, beautiful costumes bundled with best performance by each and every character to make it a unique package.
Vishwanath Shetty a dramatist by himself was the man behind the introduction of this troupe to the organizer. He was felicitated with flower, shawl and memento during the later part of the programme.
The total programme was hosted by Sampath Shetty and Ananth respectively who carried on their roles very well. Ananth beautifully compered his part of the programme throughout with his rhyming Kannada touch flawlessly, professionally with humour and wit. Pravin Shetty of Fortune Hotel who has patronized this drama and who himself hails from Kundapur, where the troupe belongs to, had successfully presented this great show ‘entrance free’ for all drama lovers of UAE. In his thanks giving speech at the end remembered all the organizing committee members for their support and thanked the audience for giving him such a tremendous response.
The programmed ended at around 9 pm with raffle draw and felicitating the troupe’s other actors.