Mysuru: The world is moving towards violence, in the country history is being distorted and epic poems are misconstrued as history, regretted National School of Drama (NSD) Director C. Basavalingaiah.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Rashtriya Ranga Utsava,’ a five-day theatre fest organised by Abhiyenthararu at Kalamandira here on Thursday and said that today’s youth without understanding or being aware of history are giving importance to rumours and Whatsapp forwards, which is a sad development.

India is a pluralistic, diverse country but stands united where national and international interests are concerned. Theatre is very much a part of this discussion which reflects the goings on in society. Such Ranga Utsavas throw light on these kinds of developments, he said.

In Bengaluru, a cosmopolitan city, there are people speaking different languages and national-level dramas are being staged. Similarly in Delhi international theatre festivals are being organised. Mysuru being a cultural capital, experimentation in theatre is always going on here. The Kannada and Culture Department and Rangayana have been organising several theatre festivals. Bahuroopi and National Theatre Festival held recently have been very successful, he said.

South Zone Regional Centre Member T.N. Nanjundaswamy said that through his centre plays are being staged in villages in the State. As a result people are moving away from watching TV and coming to watch plays.

Since the last two years efforts are on to preserve arts which are being destroyed and also moves are on to extend theatre activities in all places. In this direction folk songs programme is being organised at Male Mahadeshwara Hills. Apart from Kannada and Culture Department other departments must also encourage arts, he said.

The government is spending crores of rupees for art and culture and this money must reach the rural talents and artistes at State and national level must be encouraged, he said.

Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director Hanuru Chennappa, Abhiyenthararu President H.S. Suresh Babu and Secretary B.S. Tandavamurthy were present on the dais.

Mahamood Gaawaan play staged: Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambar’s play ‘Mahamood Gaawaan’ was staged at Kalamandira as part of the inauguration of the theatre festival. The play was written only recently and was adapted into theatre by the hosts Abhiyenthararu.

Actors Manju Upadhyaya, R.V.Rohit, K.G. Rajkumar, K. Gautham, Supriya N. Vaidya, U. Samrat, Bhavani Hebbasur, B.R. Nagesh, T. Yoganand, N.S. Mahadevaswamy, S.P. Parthasarathy, P. Sujit, V. Manohar, Prajwal Kumar, M. Vishal and V. Lavish displayed their acting skills and entertained the audience.

Today, Geegi Pada by Kalaburagi’s Shakunthala Bai at 5.30 pm; Staging of Marathi play ‘Mahanirvan’ by Natak Company, Pune, at 7 pm.