‘Harishchandra’ documentary director and actors felicitated

Mysuru: Despite the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cinema and theatre continue to thrive, proving their enduring relevance and human touch, said Rangayana Director Satish Tiptur.

He was speaking at a felicitation programme held at Sriranga auditorium in Rangayana premises on Sunday, organised to celebrate the documentary ‘Harishchandra,’ directed by Dr. Rajappa Dalwai, which recently bagged eight awards at a competition in Kolkata. “We are living in an era dominated by AI and no one truly knows where it will lead us. Yet, cinema and theatre — fields deeply rooted in human expression — are only growing stronger. This shows that AI’s influence remains limited in these art forms,” Tiptur observed.

He further noted that while cinema and theatre may appear similar at first glance, they each offer distinct perspectives. “A documentary helps us explore the philosophy of life and deepens our understanding of it,” he added.

Writer B.A. Mahesh, speaking on the occasion, said that short films and documentaries are gaining popularity in the current digital age. “Theatres are no longer drawing audiences like before. Reels have taken over social media, capturing more attention. This shift has made it difficult to create effective comedy scenes in mainstream cinema,” he remarked.

However, he noted that short films don’t face the same challenge. “Short films deliver powerful messages in a brief span, unlike feature films that stretch over three hours. This brevity works in their favour.”

On the occasion, ‘Harishchandra’ short film actors Nagaraj Adavani and S.G. Somashekar Rao, along its directed Dr. Rajappa Dalwai, were felicitated. Veteran theatre personality Rajashekar Kadamba, Nataraj Shivu and others were present.