A great man and an illusion

Mahatma Gandhi shares the stage with ghosts albeit in two completely different Kannada plays this week

Mahatma Gandhi shares the stage with ghosts albeit in two completely different Kannada plays this week

Two kannada plays from the same century but of different flavours will serve as fodder for your senses this week. Gandhi Banda and Mayamruga respectively deal with the heart and minds of society and human brain.

Gandhi Banda

Stories float around that Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings have transformed the lives of many. Ranga Mantapa's play Gandhi Banda proves it. Based on a short story by H Nagaveni, the theatre group chronicles how Gandhi's values and thoughts gave a young couple enough courage to go ahead with an inter-religious marriage despite severe social and personal obstacles.

While explaining the relevance of Gandhi Banda, which literally means Gandhi Arrives when translated from Kannada, the director Champa Shetty says, "The play shows how Gandhi's teaching are useful to tackle any crisis. There is a strong dramatic element in this story that attracted me. It deals with issues like Hindu-Muslim union and widow marriage, which are prevalent even now."

Set in the pre-independent era, Gandhi Banda is based on the life of Draupadi, a young widow in South Canara district of Karnataka. Gandhij's visit to this place changed the thoughts and lives of many. Draupadi was one of them. Married when she was very young, Draupadi lost her husband suddenly.
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The strict Hindu customs and rituals transformed her life. Dressed in the customary white sari, she began leading a hopeless and restricted life. But soon she meets Adrama, a Muslim bullock cart driver and follower of Gandhi.

Both madly fall in love but social reactions prevent them from being together. But they find courage and inspiration in Gandhi's teachings on religion and society and decide to tie the knot. Gandhi Bande depicts how Gandhi's thoughts and values helped a young couple to find their path.

"The beauty of the story is that nowhere Gandhi comes into the picture directly. But his presence is felt though the lives and decisions of common people,"says Shetty.

Through celebrations like Bhoothakola and Kambala, Shetty not only explores the Indian traditions and customs but also brings out the woes of the Indian marriage.
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Gandhi Banda represents all that the Mahatma believed and wanted India to be. A sensitive portrayal of the common man's life, the play shows the relevance of Gandhi and his ideals in all aspects of Indian socio-religious life.

At Ranga Shankara
On September 7, 7.30 pm
Call 93412 22546
For Rs 50
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Mayamruga

Ghosts have always been an integral part of the human imagination. However, the existence of this unnatural entity has always been a matter of debate and discussion.

Through the play Mayamruga, the city based theatre group Vatikutira Troupe questions this and more this Wednesday.
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Penned by the famous Kannada author Kuppali Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi, this play explores the world beyond our vision and explains the reason for its existence in human minds.

Explaining how the works of Tejaswi have always excited him since his adolescence, Prithvi Aradhya, the director of Mayamruga says, "It deals with a psychological concept based on how the human mind works on illusions, things that probably don't exist at all in reality.
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The play shows that the ghost is in our brain."

Mayamruga, which means a magical creature, is based on the experiences of Tejaswi and his friend, who one night set out for a graveyard in search of ghosts. On the way they encountered a dog, which they mistake as a ghost. Through many such funny experiences and encounters, the play explores the human psyche and imagination at various moments.

Clarifying that this play has no intention of imparting any message to the audience, Aradhya says, "Our intention is to bring alive Tejaswi's experiences on stage before the audience. We have taken special take care on lights and sounds to lend a haunted atmosphere on stage."

Humorous and conversational, the script brings out moments and figments of human imagination, which are silly and make you, want to smile. A teaser for your brain, Mayamruga is ready this week to reveal the truth behind this ghoul-like phenomenon called ghost.
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At Ranga Shankara
On September 8, 7.30 pm
Call 98806 95659
For Rs 100