Sir,

The letter titled “When ideology intrudes, art suffers” by H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana in SOM dated Dec.16, tells one side of the story and deliberately masks the overall picture of what is going on in Rangayana.

The letter tries to squarely blame and put the responsibility of the ongoing fiasco at Rangayana on a few thinkers in Mysuru which is not the complete story.

The ideological difference was very much the creation of the Director. Ever since he took charge of Rangayana, he has been in the news for wrong reasons. Speaking against left ideology and unnecessarily bringing up Tipu Sultan’s name.

The previous Directors, though subscribe to different ideologies, have never tried to impose their thinking on anyone. But now it is not the case.  

If the Director had taken the decision collectively taking all into confidence to invite the guests for Bahuroopi, an annual national theatre festival of Rangayana, this situation would not have come to light. Rangayana has been organising Bahuroopi for almost two decades now and amateur theatre groups in Mysuru have been associated with this festival since it was started. So it is important to listen to them and take a decision.

The interview he has given to Samvad YouTube Channel is available online and his tirade against certain individuals and ideology is open; it is for everyone to see. Let theatre-lovers decide who is wrong and right.

In fact, Bahuroopi was started way back in 2000 by Prasanna, the then Rangayana Director. Others have continued it with the same zeal and made it an indispensable cultural event of Mysuru. If this national theatre festival was spreading left ideology, why was the present Director continuing it?

In this context, some thinkers are opposing his presence and political affiliation of Malavika Avinash. Being in theatre, it is important to hear the voice of dissent and provide them a platform to sort out things, but the present Director is so adamant and is not ready to lend a patient hearing. This has created a ruckus of sort in the last few weeks.

– Vasanth Mysore, Kuvempunagar, 17.12.2021

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