Dear Arundhati,
Navodaya team had booked the Rangashankara auditorium for the 10th of September 2022 in order to present the play Ayodhyakanda. But now, as a mark of protest, we have decided not to stage the play at Rangashankara.
Rangashankara is a reputed Theater space in Bangalore. Everyone including you, various drama troupes and audience are worthy of compliments for putting it up on the pedestal. Rangashankara is a symbol. Shouldn’t the ambition of this reach the actors? Naseeruddin Shah is great actor and also a big cinema star. I have immense respect for him. But how does he represent Theater? By breaking all the traditions, if a whole month is allotted for his performances, how can it cure the curse that is bothering the Theater?
What is that curse, which is bothering Theater? Isn’t it the virtual theatre like cinema, tv serials? Today’s scenario is so serious that, not just actors, but even the backstage artists too have been working in cinema and tv serials for daily wages to make their ends meet, isn’t it? All the Theater activities across the state have been on a decline, isn’t it? At times where Theater, Acting, Direction, Play writing have all been discarded, I didn’t find it appropriate that a cinema star has been given such preference and privilege.
He could’ve come like every other person. Even his plays could’ve been performed like any other play. Normal Theater artists might not have the courage to question this behaviour of Rangashankara. They are scared that they might lose an opportunity to perform at Rangashankara in future. I am old. I have done enough Theater. Stopping one show will not affect me or the team in any way. Hence, this protest. I am saying these words with love and concern for Rangashankara.
Date: 20.07.2022
Prasanna
Regards
Mysore
