Karnataka - Mangalore   

A Tulu play on people’s struggle

MANGALORE: Tulu theatre is thriving in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts amid Yakshagana and modern modes of entertainment.

Tulu plays are drawing many viewers in the city and other towns amid the presence of television programmes, cinema and Yakshagana available in compact discs, computer games, and other forms of entertainment.

Tulu theatre groups led by Vijaya Kumar Kodialbail, Naveen D. Padil and Devadas Kapikad are in the forefront in staging shows.

“At least six new Tulu theatre groups have been formed this year. This is a notable and welcome development,” said Mr. Kodialbail who has been running the Kalasangama troupe for the past 23 years.

The Kalasangama troupe has lost no time in taking up an important issue in Dakshina Kannada which is on the verge of setting up a special economic zone (SEZ).

Among other plays, his team has been staging a play titled Kode, ini, elle (Yesterday, today, tomorrow) to throw light on the issues involved in setting up SEZs. “We have staged this play 56 times,” he said.

This play has featured the united struggle by the people against the SEZ.

“It is the issue of our land, existence and culture,” said Mr. Kodialbail.

The next show is scheduled at the Town Hall here on November 5. Karavali Nagarika Samrakshna Trust has sponsored this show.

The organisers have invited elected representatives and government officials to the show.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, MLAs and the district in-charge Minister have been invited,” he said. The troupe staged this show last at Delantabettu village.

This troupe’s Oriyadori asal (One smarter than the other) has recorded 650 shows, Madime (marriage) 186 shows, Onji nimisha (one minute) more than 200 shows and Kutumba (family) 106 shows so far.

“We have produced 18 plays in 23 years,” he said.

The Tulu theatre troupes, including Kalasangama and those led by Mr. Kapikad and Mr. Padil, have been staging shows in Maharashtra.

“This time, we staged shows for six months in Mumbai, Nasik and Pune,” he said.

The troupes have also staged plays at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Doha and Qatar in West Asia.

Mr. Kodialbail has translated the Marathi play, Sahiri Sahi, into Tulu as Asal Aer. “We have staged this show at least 70 times,” he said.

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