No death for theatre: Master Hirannaiah

BANGALORE: Theatre person Master Hirannaiah said that there is no death for the age-old entertainment media like theatre. Speaking at the 50th World Theatre Day celebrations organised by Karna

BANGALORE: Theatre person Master Hirannaiah said that there is no death for the age-old entertainment media like theatre. Speaking at the 50th World Theatre Day celebrations organised by Karnataka Nataka Academy on Tuesday, Hirannaiah said that theatre is one of those entertainment media which has been existing for many centuries.

He said he has staged his popular ‘Lanchavathara’ drama more than 11,000 times across the world. He said he had provision to change and adapt new techniques in every performance.

“It is not like films. Plays can be changed. We are like Jangamas. As Basavanna said, Jangamas have no death.”

“The governments bestow awards on aged persons in recognition of their achievements. What will they do with those awards at such a ripe age? The government should honour artistes at a young age which will in turn make them perform better,” he observed.

“Today, only a few understand yesteryears’ theatre system. Karnataka Nataka Academy as well as the Kannada and Culture Department should record old plays and make documentaries on senior artistes. This is for the next generation.

If it is not recorded now, it will never be,” he cautioned.

Eighty seven-year-old legendary theatre person R Nagarathnamma who was felicitated had to leave the dais due to health problems. However, she insisted on listening to Hirannaiah’s speech and left the venue only after his speech.

Secretary to Kannada and Culture Department Basavaraj, Commissioner Manu Baligar, artistes Girija Lokesh, Director Sudhindra Sharma, Academy President Malathi Sudhir and Registrar T G Narasimhamurthy were present on the occasion.

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