Report & Pics by Sujay Bendore
For Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai (GA)

Dubai, Nov 26: Billawas Dubai and NE celebrated its 10th Anniversary recently, before a packed crowd at the Jumeirah Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai. A colourful programme with various performances on the stage by the young and old throughout the day, kept the audience spellbound.
 
Among the various cultural programmes, a Tulu play which is originally written, directed by “Telikeda Bolli” Devdas Kapikad, a well-known dramatist from Mangalore, the “Bithulda Ulai Ulla Kelavu Soththulu” was staged by local artistes. This comedy play with the touch of sentiments was well-performed by the artistes.

The main comedy character of the drama, the land owner of the ‘bithul’, Panduranga, enacted by Chidananda Poojary,  was indeed a great performance since it was a role was originally acted by the playwright Devidas Kapikad himself. Jayanand Kunder as the school teacher too gave a great performance and Shruthi Sathish Poojary, who is acting in a Tulu play for the first time too was appreciated in her role of daughter of the school teacher by the audience. Sarwani, the wife of school teacher was performed by Suvarna Sathish Poojary, was appreciated by every one.
 
 Other supporting characters – Raghava (Rajesh Kuthar), the milk vendor; Ananthu(Shantharam Achar) , the Idli vendor; two brothers of school teacher( Kishor & Prabhakar ) were acted very well and Umesh (Vishwanath Shetty), son of Ananthu, the idli vendor , applauded by the audience for his great performance.  Sunder (Yogish) the brother of Panduranga, a petty rowdy in the play was acted equally as good as the original role in the drama.

The two-hour play provided a good tonic of laughter to the audience, who for sure will remember this play for long.