He was speaking after inaugurating a four-day JSS Rangothsava - theatre festival, organised by the JSS Kalamantapa, a forum attached to the JSS Mahavidyapeetha at Kalamandir.
Since the beginning, the theatre has imparted moral values along with providing entertainment. The Veerashaiva mutts have for long patronised theatre in North Karnataka and spread moral values to the society. The theatre has evolved and has also become part of academic programmes. He lauded the Suttur mutt for chipping in to patronise theatre and culture.
Enormous power
Noted theatre director C Basavalingaiah said that it was a play, Satya Harishchandra and Shravana Kumara which influenced the life of Mahatma Gandhiji. The theatre has enormous power to mould personalities, through that, a society and its culture, he opined and added that institution of theatre raises above language and caste barriers.
“In theatre, no one will ask another to what caste he belongs. The theatre has always been a secular entity,” he remarked. The theatre has educated the masses since time immemorial. When cinema arrived, many feared that theatre will lose its charm. But, it only grew stronger. The arrival of television also failed to have any impact on the theatre. It has grown more stronger, Basavalingaiah said.
He suggested the JSS Mahavidyapeetha and its seer Shivarathri Deshikendra to open a Theatre Training School as part of its educational work. “If more art and theatre teachers are produced, we can impart a theatre education to children, breaking the monotonous study pattern.
The JSS Rangothsava is a first step towards making theatre a part of education system,” he said. In his address, Suttur mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra said his mutt would be glad to introduce the theatre education under the umbrella of the education initiative of JSS Mahavidyapeetha, if the Rangayana and senior theatre personalities chalked out a syllabus and roadmap for it. The JSS Mahavidyapeetha aims to impart a cultural education to the children and youth, he stated.
Mrichakatika
On the inaugural day, students of JSS College for Arts, Commerce and Science presented a play, Mrichakatika, directed by Gangadharaswamy. The Kalamandir was packed with school and college students for the first show in the afternoon. While, the evening show meant for the public also attracted good crowd. The students of JSS college drew accolades for their performance in the play which was laced with perfect dose of humour.