Pic: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SN/SP)
Udupi, Feb 5: The inaugural of 'Natkas' drama festival was held at the MGM College here on Tuesday February 3.
The event was organized by Karnataka Nataka Academy and Mudrady Nama Tuluver art association.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Dr K Marulasiddappa, former president of Karnataka Nataka Academy expressed his displeasure at the fact that the government continues to support the film industry in a big way even though it has undergone a transformation from being an art into business, to the detriment of theatrical activities.
Lack of enthusiasm and vibrancy is evident in the field of dramas. Protecting and developing the theatrical art is the responsibility of the public as well as the government. Till recently, tax concessions were extended only for cinemas and not for plays. The government is indirectly responsible for the slump in popularity of dramas. The theatre too can gain in popularity, if the government supports it even at a part of the scale it does for the cinema, he argued. The government is just doing lip-sympathy to the theatre, he lamented.
"Rather than confining themselves to just providing entertainment, dramas must also be thought-provoking. The western countries follow the practice of collecting 50 paisa on each ticket by way of cess and use the fund so accumulated for the development of the theatre. Our government too should think on those lines," advised Siddappa.
Drama can not compete with television and film industry as far as pure entertainment is concerned, but it has the responsibility of creating awareness among the people for ushering in social changes. The academy and government must encourage children's drama theatre, urged Siddappa.
Presiding over the function, Dr B V Rajaram, president, Karnataka Nataka Academy, said drama festival will be held in 13 districts in the name of the theatre personalities from those districts. In the coming days, training programmes for the youth, drama theatres in schools, drama festivals, seminars etc., will be held in all the districts, he explained.
Dr Jayaprakash Mavinakuli, principal, MGM College, in his address, stressed the need for supporting theatre activities and artistes.
Nataka Academy members Prasanna Kumar, Sukumar Mohan and ‘Namma Tuluver' founder Dharmayogi Mohan were present on the occasion.