Natana Rangashale, city-based amateur theatre group, in association with Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Trust and Department of Kannada and Culture, has organised a four-day ‘Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Natakotsava’ as part of Dr. Gubbi Veeranna’s 125th birth anniversary and World Theatre Day celebrations from Mar. 25.

The theatre festival will feature plays that make audience sit glued to their seats. These plays also take the audience to a nostalgic journey during which company theatre was popular. Natana has also organised a photo exhibition featuring the stalwarts of company theatre.

The four-day festival will be inaugurated by Master Hiranaiah at 6 pm on Mar. 25 at Natana premises in Ramakrishnagar and the photo exhibition will be inaugurated by Music University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sarvamangala Shankar.

MUDA Chairman D. Dhruvakumar and Theatre Director Shashidhar Bharighat will be the chief guests. Later,Bengaluru’s Samudaya theatre group will stage the play ‘Mahatma Kabira’ directed by Shasidhar Bharighat.

Mar. 26 (6 pm): Bengaluru’s Kala Gangothri Theatre Group will stage the play ‘Prahalada Vijaya’ directed by B.V. Rajaram. Theatre Patron H.S. Govindagowda, Corporator M.K. Shankar and B.V. Rajaram will be the guests.

Mar.27 (6 pm): Bengaluru’s National School of Drama (NSD) Regional Centre will stage the play ‘Akkamahadevi’ directed by C. Basavalingaiah. Kannada and Culture Assistant Director H. Chennappa, Senior Theatrist Srikanta Gundappa, NSD Bengaluru Centre Director C. Basavalingaiah will be the guests.

Mar. 28 (6 pm): Artistes of Natana Rangashale will be staging the play ‘Subhadra Kalyana’ directed by actor  Mandya Ramesh.

Prior to this, Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree will release ‘Kanna Muchche Kadegode,’ the autobiography of the legendary artiste B. Jayashree. Kannada Development Authority Chairman S.G. Siddaramaiah will release ‘Art Is Life’, the English translation of Dr. Gubbi Veeranna’s autobiography ‘Kaleya Kayaka.’ A Coffee Table Book featuring the photographs of Dr. Gubbi Veeranna will be released by Music University Registrar Dr. Niranjan Vanalli.

Senior musician Y.M. Puttannaiah, senior Theatrist Chindodi Bangaresh, artistes B.V. Krishna, Radha Rukmini, Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Trust President Dr. B. Jayashree and Manohara Granthamale Head Sameera Joshi will be present.

Entry tickets for the plays are priced at Rs. 100 each.  For details, contact Mob: 99455-55570 or 94804-68327.