Mysore/Mysuru: Kalasuruchi Troupe will be performing a play titled  “Leelavathi”  based on the life  of celebrated mathematician Bhaskaracharya – II under the  Direction  of Prof. H.S. Umesh at Ramagovinda Rangamandira in Ramakrishnanagar, on June 25 (Saturday) at 7 pm.  Script is by Shashidhar Dongre

Kalasuruchi was founded by Sindhuvalli Ananthamurthy during the year 1985 and since then, it has been active in many genres of fine arts. The team now consists of dedicated people from various walks of life with a simple intention to take part and contribute to appreciation and performance of various art forms. While theatre has been its core focus, the team has also been active in performing and organising other art forms like classical music, light music, Harikathe etc.

Kalasuruchi is well-known for conducting popular programme like Kathe Kelona Banni, Sahithya Chavadi, Nataka Vachana on a regular basis.

Kalasuruchi has produced some major Kannada plays like Vamsha Vriksha, Bekku Baavi, Haddumeerida Hadi, Mandra, Bhavadajjukeeya etc. For the last few years, the team has been staging plays based on science themes as well. Brecht’s Galileo, Carl dJerassi’s Calculus, David Auburn’s Proof are some of them. Along with other theatre teams in Mysuru, Kalasuruchi has been successfully conducting Annual Mysore Science Theatre Festival and has completed 4 editions.

Abouit the play ‘Leelavathi’

Bhaskarcharya is one of the greatest mathematicians of 12th century. Indian mathematical tradition starting from Aryabhata developed further with Brahmagupta, Mahaveeracharya and others. It is said after Bhaskara-II, Indian mathematics declined in quantity and quality. Bhaskara-II has written many books, Siddhanta Shiromani being the major one. Leelavathi is one of four parts of this book. There have been innumerable commentaries on this book which stands testimony to the depth and popularity of Leelavathi.

Faizi, who was one of the Navaratna’s in Akabar Court translated this to Persian. Later HT Colebrooke translated it to English thus enabling spreading the fame of Leelavathi beyond India’s shores.

Bhaskara-II is a major milestone in the history of world mathematics. Even today, several research articles are being written regularly. To see a book being revisited after 1,000 years of its first writing, is proof of its relevance. In this play, there is an attempt to look at few parts of this book, personalities involved in a dramatic setting.

Shashidhar Dongre

Shashidhar Dongre, residing in Mysuru, is an engineer by profession and has been active in literature and theatre for few years. Many of his plays — translations, adaptations included — have been presented in Mysuru and elsewhere. He is a columnist and has written on “History of Science” and “Artificial Intelligence and Society.”

Prof. H.S. Umesh

Prof. H.S. Umesh has been an integral part of Amateur theater in Kannada for a long time. He retired as the Principal of BEd College at Sarada Vilas Educational Institutions. He has been honoured with Karnataka Nataka Academy Fellowship and is a regular faculty and resource person for many workshops on theatre and education.

Some of the important plays he has directed are: Oedipus, Gado, Gokarnada Gowdasani, Datu, Kelu Janamejaya, Rakshasa Mudrike, Bharivai Venkatasubbaiah, Alida Mele, Sandhya Raga and Durgastamana. He has been actively involved in defining the objectives and in the implementation of Dr. Sindhuvalli Fellowship programme of Kalasuruchi.  He is a writer, translator and editor of a major literary magazine.

On stage: Chinmayi – S. Nethra;  Amma – Vinaya J. Vittal; Prof. Swamy – P. Nagabhushan;  Nalla – M. Sumukh Raghavan; Nalle – Likhita S. Gowda; Bhaskaracharya – M. Dwarak-anath; Faizi – Krishna Jamboor; Colebrooke – J. Raghunandan; Father – C.J. Ravishankar; Children – S. Avani, S. Anushka, Athreya.

Back stage:  Costume design – Likhita S. Gowda; Music – B.R. Raveesh; Make up & Costumes: Rajeshwari Vastralankara, B.M. Ramachandra;  Stage design and property – Narasimha Kumar; Lighting – B.R. Raveesh; Production Manager – Ramesh Babu; Assistance- Vijaya Sindhuvalli and Pradeep Kumar.