Tulu theatre lovers who paid tributes to Tulu playwright and director Machendranath Pandeshwar here on Friday urged the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy to publish a book containing the best of his dramas.
Vamana Nandavara, a former president of the academy and Shivananda Karkera, a Tulu theatre lover, said that Pandeshwar, who died last week aged 78, had written more than 150 dramas both in Tulu and Kannada.
Mr. Nandavara said that a form of Tulu literature would be preserved by publishing the best of his plays. Mr. Karkera said if the works were not brought out in book form at least 25 of his best plays should be preserved in the academy by photocopying them.
Theatre groups could make use of them for staging dramas. He said that the Tulu playwright had an equal command over English. Tonse Pushkala Kumar, a musician, said that Pandeshwar wrote not for the sake of writing. As a director he had adopted modern theatre techniques which were being taught now in Ninasam School of Drama, Heggodu and National School of Drama, Delhi.
Muddu Moodubelle, a playwright, said that the All India Radio of Mangalore had broadcast many of his plays.
Chairman of the academy Umanath A Kotian spoke.
Tulu cinema ‘Dareda Seere’ was based on Mr. Pandeshwar’s drama ‘porthu kanthund’. He had written screenplay, dialogue and lyrics for Tulu cinemas Pettayi Pili, Badkere Budle and Dareda Seere. He had acted in Tulu cinemas namely Bhagyavanthedi, Tudar and Badkere Budle, and had also written lyrics for the first two.
