Karnataka - Mysore   

Sound and Light Show may soon be a reality

— PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM

Showcasing heritage: A view of the illuminated Mysore Palace.

MYSORE: The son et lumiere or the Sound and Light Show at the Mysore Palace may soon be a reality. Recording of the Kannada version of the rewritten script has been completed, and the project executors are gearing up to launch the show.

The Kannada version of the show may be launched on or before December 20, while the English and Hindi versions, which are yet to be recorded, may begin before January 26, 2009.

Sources in the Mysore Palace Board told The Hindu that the work was in its final stage of completion and the Kannada version, for which some Kannada actors had lent their voice, was all set for the launch. However, the process of synchronising the lighting system with the revised script was on.

“The project engineers are now working on synchronising lighting with the script. In the next four days, they will be in a position to synchronise the lighting based on the sequences narrated in the show. Subsequently, the much-delayed show will be ready for the launch,” they said. Deputy Director of the palace board P.V. Awaradi confirmed that the project engineers were working on the lighting system as per the revised script. “We are keen on launching the show without any further delay. The launch date will be finalised after bringing the matter to the notice of Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan, administrator of the palace board,” he said.

The delay in launching the show was because of a controversy surrounding the script which was originally written by linguist Lingadevaru Halemane.

The script came under the scanner as it was perceived that the royal family of Mysore had been sidelined and the contribution of Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Nalwudi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, reckoned to be makers of modern Mysore, had been ignored.

The scion of Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, had also opposed the original script.

Following the opposition, the Government formed a three-member committee of experts headed by historian Suryanath Kamath to make modifications to the script. The other members of the committee were journalist Krishna Vattam and Nanjaraje Urs, a retired professor of the University of Mysore.

The project was mooted in 2003 when S.M. Krishna was the Chief Minister. It was supposed to have commenced in 2004, but was delayed for several reasons. The show could not be launched even though there were “positive” indications by the authorities.

The show was first demonstrated before the officials of the Tourism Department and a group of journalists in July 2007. In fact, the authorities had even announced the timings of the show to be held at the palace.

However, for some reasons, the show was delayed again. The script traces the history and cultural heritage of Mysore through narration accompanied by attractive lighting of the palace during the show.

The sources said that the revised script would highlight the contribution of the Wadiyars. A draft copy of the revised script had been sent to the royal family, after making modifications to the original script, the sources added.

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