Mysuru: The year was 1989 and noted theatre personality, B V Karanth was returning from Bhopal when then Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde keen on promoting the state's theatre culture, got in touch with him. What followed was Rangayana, a theatre institute that Karanth had dreamed of and of which he went on to become the first director.
Now a nationally acclaimed professional repertory, it celebrated its silver jubilee not too long ago. Having produced over 80 plays, including the likes of Kindara Jogi and Gandhi Vs Gandhi, it has played a huge role in the careers of nearly 200 prominent theatre personalities like Rangayana Raghu and Arun Sagar among others.
Besides entertaining an audience of not less than 25 lakh at its campus since its inception, it has taken its plays across the country and even the world. Active in other areas too, it offers a one year diploma course in theatre and several holds workshops for theatre enthusiasts as part of its contribution to the local community.
Sadly, despite the prominence it has gained in over two decades of its existence, some refuse to stage their plays in its auditoriums today, not because they value it any less, but because they are simply not big enough to accommodate the scale of their productions. Even audiences are turned away regularly for want of seating space.
Not too long ago theatre personality Rathan Thiyam from Manipur, refused to enact Shakespeare's Macbeth at Rangayana's Bhoomigeetha theatre only because he found it too small to execute the play in its fullest form.
On another occasion Rangayana had to transform its open air theatre, Vanaranga, by reversing the gallery to create a setting of Rome for the play, Julius Caesar, reducing audience space in the process.
Functioning from the cellar of the Kalamandir auditorium and a tiny campus behind it, Rangayana continues to operate in cramped surroundings thanks to the apathy of the state government , which has not moved a finger to expand its facilities.
Besides the Bhoomigeetha theatre, which has a capacity to seat 207, it has a mini theatre, Sriranga, which can accommodate an audience of a 100, and an open air theatre, Vanaranga, which can accommodate another 100 viewers.
“Theatre festivals like Bahuroopi held here attract artistes, thinkers, litterateurs and at least a 10,000 floating audience from across the state, but the limited space is a major constraint, leaving the entire campus crowded and distorting the spirit of the festivals. It is not just an opportunity lost to promote theatre culture, but also to tap the tourism potential of Mysuru via theatre,” lament theatre lovers here.
“Plays of international playwrights are staged by Rangayana and it has thinkers, litterateurs, professionals and others in its audience. There is usually pin-drop silence during the performances held here. But as Bhomigeetha is in the cellar of Kalamandir, we have to put up with a lot of disturbance when there is some activity above us,” rues a theatre artiste.
The fact that Rangayana has been doing pathbreaking work, introducing new styles and trends in theatre by giving opportunities to sexual minorities to perform, entertaining prisoners in jails and creating social awareness through its street plays, besides promoting ranga geethes and folk culture, has not made an iota of difference to its facilities.
But it is not holding back on its plans. Having set up a Sriranga information and research centre, it now plans to establish a national level theatre library and a B V Karanth museum. All its plans , however, hinge on the generosity of the state government to expand its facilities.
“We have asked for two acres of land belonging to the University of Mysuru, where we plan to come up with an environment theatre in the backdrop of the Kukkarhalli lake and also three acres opposite Kalamandira, to establish a mega theatre which can accommodate a bigger audience on the lines of Rangashankara,” says Rangayana director, H Janardhan.
But there has been little response from the authorities. Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, Shikha says no proposal for transferring land to Rangayana has been processed as yet, leaving it holding an empty begging bowl still.
