Mysuru: Maintaining that late theatre doyen B.V. Karanth was a huge inspiration for any theatre activities, National School of Drama (NSD) Acting Director Prof. Suresh Sharma observed that it was B.V. Karanth who gave a new dimension to the theatre.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ week organised by NSD in association with the Department of Kannada and Culture at Kalamandira here yesterday.

Pointing out that there were four NSD in the country including the one at Bengaluru, Prof. Suresh Sharma stressed on the need for opening more drama schools in the country.

Opining that theatre education in Drama Schools must be imparted in the respective home language, he said that the nature of Drama Schools too should change on the lines of Management and Science Institutes of national importance.

Asserting that the plays in the Fest have been selected in a most transparent manner, he called upon art lovers of the city to watch the plays and encourage the artistes.

Rangayana Director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, in her address, said that the NSD was not limited to Delhi and was expanding its horizons to all corners of the country.

Noting that it was NSD’s first such Theatre Fest in city, she said that the NSD should join hands with repertories in all States for taking the theatre to much higher levels.

Recalling the effort of B.V. Karanth in establishing the Rangayana here, she said that Rangayana has brought a number of artistes to the limelight.

Pointing out that Gubbi Veeranna was among those who got trained at NSD, Bhagirathi Bai Kadam said that she too was a product of NSD.

The inaugural ceremony was followed by enactment of Malayalam play Mahasagaram, which was performed by artistes from Kalam Theatre and Repertory, Thiruvananthapuram.

The play, scripted by V.R. Sudheesh, was directed by Prasanth Narayanan.

Rangayana Joint Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, former Rangayana Directors H. Janardhan and C. Basavalingaiah, theatre personality Rajashekar Kadamba, Prof. C. Naganna and others were present during the inaugural.