Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that today the theatre needs more movements rather than activities, senior theatre personality H.S. Shivaprakash bemoaned that the theatre had failed to become a massive industry, despite having all the activities.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Niranthara Ranga Utsava,’ a five-day Theatre Festival organised by the city’s Niranthara Foundation at RamaGovinda Rangamandira in Ramakrishnanagar here on Wednesday.

Stating that he cannot understand in which direction the theatre is heading, Shivaprakash opined that though theatre activities have resumed on a full-scale post the COVID pandemic, it is not much known what is achieved from them.

Stressing on the need for a ‘Human and Humanitarian investment’ rather than financial investment in the theatre, Shivaprakash stressed on the need for focussing more on local plays. It must not be forgotten that everything that is not local cannot reach the national or international level, he observed.

Opining that the theatre must not follow history and instead be an indicator of history, he asserted that a play can do what a cinema cannot do. As such, it can be said it is the theatre which creates history, he added.

Niranthara theatre troupe artistes enacted ‘Vaarasudara,’ a play scripted by Bengaluru’s Income Tax Commissioner Jayaram Raipura. The play was adapted and directed by Prasad Kundoor.

Earlier, Surendra and team presented ‘Pooja Kunita’ performance. Jayaram Raipura, Niranthara Foundation’s Prasad Kundoor and others were present. 

Plays will be staged at 7 pm on all days till Mar. 27. Yesterday, the play ‘Maaya Bete’ was staged by Bengaluru-based theatre troupe Drushyakavya.

Today (Mar. 25), Niranthara Foundation will present the play ‘Saayo Aata’ penned by Jnanpith awardee Da.Ra. Bendre and directed by B.K. Kiran and K.Y. Guruprasad.