Rangayana head faces activists’ wrath

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Members of Rangayana Ulisi Samithi staged a protest in front of the main gate of Rangayana in Mysuru on Monday, demanding the dismissal of the present director of Rangayana Mr Addanda Kaaryappa.

Pa Mallesh who led the protest said that they would stage the protest for an hour daily, until Mr Kaaryappa is removed from his post or he voluntarily quits. Former director of Rangayana C Basavalingaiah, said many organizations have warned of boycotting the Bahuroopi national theatre festival and warned that they would hold an alternate theatre fest to Bahuroopi.

Columnist Na Divakar condemned Mr Kaaryappa’s statements against those protesting against him. He said, “Rangayana is a place for creativity and theatre. It is not the place for caste or religion. Usage of words like ‘right wing or left wing’ are political and are not the language of theatre, he said.

Former director of Rangayana, Mr Janardhan (Janni), said so far, 30 directors have functioned here but Mr Kaaryappa is the first person who seems to be have used Rangayana for his political interest. Several theatre activists, progressive thinkers, theatre lovers, artists, amateur theatre artists, literateurs, members of Karnataka Raitha Sangha, Dalitha Sangarsha Samithi and Karnataka Kavalu Pade protested.

Theatre artists are said to be upset over a few decisions of Rangayana director Mr Addanda Karyappa, related to the Bahuroopi national theatre festival and his statements against theatre activists/ lovers.