Jailb inmates feel free at ’Rangayatre’.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru :  The eager audience watched the play, conceptualised and directed by ’Sankalpa’ founder Hulugappa Kattimani,  ’Jathegiruvanu Chandira’, as a part of the ’Jailininda Jailige Rangayatre’, the ’prison to prison theatrical journey’ on Sept 22.

 The jail inmates, along with the artistes of Sankalpa, served a theatrical feast - which was no lesser than what a professional troupe would have offered - and the performance by them left the audience spellbound. 

Artiste Ganesh Naika Ujire, who spoke to Deccan Herald, said that over a span of 12 years, he has enacted roles in the plays, ’Jathegiruvanu Chandira’, ’King Lear’, ’Taledanda’, ’Kastur Baa’, ’Yayati’, ’Maranayaka’ (Kannada version of Macbeth), ’Hayagriva’, ’Soorya Shikari’, and ’Huliya Neralu’, and was in the lead role in most of them.

Over time, he developed an inclination towards theatre and started associating with the characters, wherein he went through a lot of mental preparation - including study of literature - to discover the artiste within him.

Another artiste, Sharat Shettigar, said that his involvement in theatre activities - initiated by Sankalpa - has taught him the art of managing his preferences and handling responsibilities with greater efficiency.

Shettigar said that, although reluctant in the beginning to play a character, he was able to convey the social message through the characters that he enacted in the plays. He added that he found the role of a hermit in the play Bhagavadajjukiya a challenging one.

Both, Sharat Shettigar and Ganesh Naika Ujire, said that the theatrical activities - including the practice sessions, conducted by director Kattimani - have brought in tremendous transformation in them, psychologically.

Theatre person Sadananda Suvarna, who inaugurated the function, expressed his appreciation of the work undertaken by Sankalpa and said that the good acts would always have receptive audience. It is evident in the plays staged during ’Jailinda Jailige Rangayatre’. The release of 10 members of the 30 participants in the team is a sign that art can bring refinement in the personalities of the people  and opined that theatre was a powerful medium that can bring about a positive change.

Delivering the keynote address, Hulugappa Kattimani said that the sole motto of the organisation was to teach the art of living and to rediscover one’s positive qualities. He said it was a proud moment when 10 artistes in the team were released by the State government on the basis of good character recently. Out of 500 released prisoners, 200 are into theatrical activities. Sankalpa plans a part time repertory for the artistes, where they can indulge in theatre activities.

Mangalore Sub Jail Superintendent Obaleshappa, Karnataka Bank Chief General Manager M S Mahabaleshwar and theatre person Anil Panth were present among an enthusiastic audience.