Mysore/Mysuru: Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa, in his presidential address at the valedictory of Bahuroopi-2022 yesterday, said that Mysuru Rangayana belongs to everyone and this has been once again been made known by the success of the 10-day Bahuroopi event. Referring to days of protests and demonstrations by some before the event, Cariappa said that the protesters had given a boycott call, asking the people as well as artistes to completely stay away from Bahuroopi event. But the Festival was eventually a huge success, with thousands of people actively and enthusiastically taking part in the 10-day event.

Maintaining that those who had protested and given a boycott call cannot be seen anywhere around now, Cariappa said that such is the power of Bahuroopi’s theme — Mother — that those who opposed are now moving around covering their faces.

Expressing happiness that the boycott call proved to be a damp squib as theatre-lovers did not care for it, Cariappa said that about 37 amateur theatre groups from different parts of the country took part in the 10-day event that was held from Mar. 11 to 20.

Noting that scores of artistes received the Rangayana’s hospitality during the event, the Rangayana Director asserted that the event was crowd-puller with thousands of people from all sections taking part. Expressing happiness that a new set of spectators has given the theatre a big push, he said that this shows that Rangayana will last forever, as it belongs to everyone. Contending that he is only a Rangayana Monitor and not the Director, Cariappa said that he has the satisfaction of working honestly and in a transparent manner. He winded up his speech, reasserting that he is only a monitor and not the Director of Rangayana.

Referring to the raising of slogans such as ‘Bharat Maata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and the like, when Chakravarty Sulibele began his speech, Cariappa said that perhaps this is for the first time in Rangayana’s over three-decade history that such slogans of patriotism were openly raised in Rangayana.