Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (SN/CN)

Udupi, Dec 29: A drama festival will be held at Muddana Mantapa of MGM College, from Saturday January 3 to Monday January 5.

The three-day event is being organized by ‘Rangabhoomi’ in the 44th year of its formation.

The prize distribution of the 29th state-level Kannada drama competition will be held on the occasion. The drama ‘Uchalya’ will be performed on Sunday, said Raviraj H P speaking at a press conference on Monday December 29.

Apart from this, K N Taylor, veteran Tulu drama actor, will be conferred the ‘Tulu Rangaratna’ award and a cash prize of Rs 5,000, he said.

Dr V S Acharya, state home minister, will preside over the function while D K Chowta, senior litterateur, Bangalore, and Purushottam P Shetty, businessman, will participate as the chief guests, informed Raviraj.

The plays ‘Yuganta’, and ‘Agniraja’, directed by Mandya Ramesh will be performed on Saturday and Monday, respectively.

Dinakar Shetty Herge, president, city municipality, will preside over the function while, B V Rajaram, president, Karnataka Nataka Academy, and M Parameshwar Rao, senior deputy registrar, Udupi, will participate as the chief guests on Saturday, said Raviraj.

Apart from that, Sri Lakshmivara Teerta Swami will honour Mandya Ramesh and deliver the benedictory speech on the occasion. A Eshwarayya, senior journalist, will preside over the function while Suresh Anangalli, director, National School of Drama, will participate as the chief guest on Monday, added Raviraj.

Ambatanaya Mudrady, president, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Udupi district, and Vijaykumar Shetty Tonse, Kala Jagattu, Mumbai, will be felicitated on the occasion.

More people should attend the programme and encourage it, he said.

Kutpady Anand Ganiga, president, Rangabhoomi, Tallur Shivaram Shetty, vice-president, U Upendra, and P Vasudev Rao, chief secretary, were present at the press conference.