Five-day Rangavalli Ranga Sambhrama opens

A feast for film songs, light music, karaoke music, brass band lovers daily from 4.30 pm

Mysore/Mysuru: Theatre person Mime Ramesh inaugurated the five-day Rangavalli Ranga Sambhrama in city yesterday.

The programme is organised by Rangavalli, an amateur theatre troupe from Mysuru, in collaboration with the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Bengaluru. The inaugural event took place at Kiru Rangamandira (Mini Theatre) in Kalamandira premises.

Dr. Purushotham Bilimale, a retired professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi and a folk scholar, presided over the event. He highlighted that India boasts over 19,600 languages, more than 4,000 communities and 24 or more regional variations. It’s like a Rangoli made of various colours and the damage to any one of the colours can destroy the Rangoli.

Dr. Bilimale said that “We have the collective responsibility of seeing to it that no colours of India is destroyed. It’s a tremendous pleasure that we’ve been living with such generations who have been preserving the colours  of the country.” Personalities like B.V Karanth, Girish Karnad, Lankesh and others have tirelessly strived to preserve the colours  of Rangavalli, recalled Dr. Purushotham.

He pointed out that art provides an escape from our hectic lives and that life and art transcend what we merely observe and experience. Direct experiences often evoke heartfelt responses. He urged  that plays not should not only be derived from literary works, but also from folk stories.

Mime Ramesh described theatre as a platform that encapsulates humanity and social consciousness. He highlighted how artists form a supportive community, standing by each other during trying times. Theatre, according to him, is a place where individuals present themselves authentically before the audience.

During the event, Vidu. Vasavi and Vidu. Harinakshi presented a light music event. Joint Director of the Kannada and Culture Department, Mysuru, V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Deputy Director of Rangayana, Mysuru, Nirmala Matapath, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture Department, Mysuru, M.D. Sudarshan and Founder-Member and Convenor of Rangavalli H.R. Raviprasad were present.

In honour of the renowned photojournalist late Nethra Raju, a variety of programmes, including film songs, light music, karaoke mus ic and brass band performances, will take place daily till Aug. 13 at 4.30 pm. The events will unfold on a stage near Kiru Rangamandira. Additionally, theatrical plays will be staged at Kiru Rangamandira at 7 pm during the five-day Ranga Sambhrama.