The six-day international theatre festival Bahuroopi 2017 got under way on Friday, with the inauguration by Sri Lankan theatre personality, Parakrama Niriella, who stressed its importance in expanding human horizons.
An annual but an important itinerary in the cultural sphere of Mysuru since 1989 when it was first conceived, the Rangayana premises was a beehive of cultural activity, ranging from folk dance to exhibitions, with a focus on theatre, arts, and literature.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Niriella urged artistes to awaken the aesthetics and appreciation of fine arts in the public, in a bid to democratise it and not content themselves by mere performances. He said theatre arts combines many characteristics of various forms of art and played an important role in shaping identity.
Mr. Niriella paid tributes to the late actor Om Puri, who was to inaugurate the festival, but passed away last week, and said it was an honour to fill in for the vacuum created by the demise of the veteran actor for whom he had great admiration. The six-day theatre festival will see a slew of productions, including those from Sri Lanka, England, Poland, and Bangladesh, to whet the appetite of connoisseurs of fine arts and culture.
A film festival is also being held, at the Rangayana premises besides theatre music, poster exhibition, folk performances, handicraft exhibition while experts from the field of dramatics and theatre will engage in stimulating discussions in the national symposiums being held to mark the occasion.
Some of the topics for discussion include Theatre and Cultural Market, Crisis of Democracy that Regulate Modes of Artistic Expression, Theatre Experiments in Karnataka, Redefining the Social Responsibility of Art among others. There will be a national seminar on Our Democracy and Theatre on January 14th and will be inaugurated by poet and playwright H.S. Shivaprakash.
