City’s Niranthara Foundation, in association with the Kannada and Culture Directorate, Bengaluru, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has organised Niranthra Ranga Ustava-2024, a six-day theatre festival from Dec. 25 to 30 at Kiru Rangamandira (Mini Theatre) in Kalamandira premises on Hunsur Road in city.

December 25– 7 pm: The festival will begin with the one-woman show ‘Nirmadala Hoovinondige’ by actor Indira Nair (Samathentho). The play is directed by Sripad Bhat.

December 26– 6 pm: Formal inauguration of the Theatre Festival along with Nagari and Tamate recital by Nagari Manju and troupe. Kannada Development Authority Chairman Purushotham Bilimale, Kannada and Culture Department Director Dharanidevi Malagatti and Prasad Kundur of Niranthara Foundation will be present. 7 pm: Staging of play ‘Thindige Banda Tunderaya’ by Nirdigantha. The play, based on ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’ authored by Bertolt Brecht, is directed by Shakeel Ahmed. Music by Anush Shetty and Munna.

December 27-6.30 pm: Department of Kannada and Culture Joint Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy will be the chief guest. 7 pm: Staging of play ‘Charuvasantha’ by Alva’s Ranga Adhyayana Kendra, Moodabidri. The play, written by Nadoja Hampana, has been adapted to theatre by Dr. N. Damodara Shetty and is designed and directed by Dr. Jeevan Ram Sullia.

December 28- 6.30 pm: Senior theatre artiste Rameshwari Verma will be the chief guest.

7 pm: Musical Night by Ustad Fayaz Khan. He will be accompanied by Pt. Veerabhadraiah Hiremath on harmonium and Pt. Ramesh Dhannur on tabla.

December 29- 6.30 pm: Retd. IAS Officer K.S. Prabhakar and Department of Kannada and Culture Assistant Director Dr. M.D. Sudharshan will be the chief guests. 7 pm: Staging of play ‘Rakta Vilapa’ by artistes of Samudaya Raichur. The play, written by Dr. Vikram Visaji, is directed by Praveen Reddy Gunjahalli. Music by Insaf Hosapete.

December 30- 6 pm: Valedictory – Veerabhadra Veeraghase Kunita by Kiralu Mahesh and troupe. Stage programme – Noted poet Prof. S.G. Siddaramaiah and actor Prakash Raj will be the chief guests. M.M. Suguna of Niranthara Foundation will be present. 7 pm: Staging of play ‘Dashanana Swapnasiddhi’ by artistes from Team Bhalire Vichithram, Heggodu. The theatrical presentation based on excerpts from Kuvempu’s ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam,’ is designed and directed by Manju Kodagu. Music by M. Arun Kumar and G.V. Bharath Kumar.

Niranthara Foundation has been working in the field of theatre for twenty-seven years with a clear social commitment. It has an ever-growing bunch of young minds who have been continuously offering creative and socially useful programmes across Karnataka. Niranthara aims at contributing to building a society based on social values, responsibility and equality. Niranthara was an idea conceived when a group of a few youngsters thought of building a solid team of committed activists, engaged in theatre activities addressing social issues. It was formally established on Sept. 28, 1997.