‘Mysuru:  Bahuroopi-2019, with the theme ‘Gender Equality,’ will be inaugurated by former Rangayana Director Prasanna at 6 pm on Jan.12 at Vanaranga, said Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Yogesh.

He was addressing a press conference after releasing a poster at the Rangayana premises here yesterday and said that there will be 18 plays in all, staged in the week-long theatre festival from Jan.12 to 18, where 12 plays will be in different languages in the country, while six plays will be in Kannada.

A dozen well-known theatre troupes from across the country, including from Assam, Delhi, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will take part in the festival. On the first day, Kuvempu’s Sri Ramayana Darshnam will be staged at Kalamandira at 8 pm, he said.

Plays will be staged at Kirurangamandira at 6 pm; Bhoomigeetha at 6.30 pm; Vanaranga at 7 pm and Kalamandira at 8 pm.  

There will also be a film festival with 24 international and national movies screened with the most of the films focused on gender equality. On each day, three movies will be screened. A two-day seminar on the theme ‘Gender Equality’ will be held on Jan.17 and 18, he said.

The other attractions include ‘Chitra Santhe’ where the works of artistes will be on sale and display, Pustaka Mela, Handicrafts Expo and Desi Aahara Mela and Poster exhibition, which will all add colour to the festival.

Rangayana Director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, Rangayana Joint Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director H. Channappa, Bahuroopin Film Festival Convenor Manu and others were present during the press meet.