Tulu theatre, cinema, Yakshagana artists submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner M.P. Mullai Muhilan here on Monday urging him to create a conducive atmosphere for artists to perform plays, screen cinemas fearlessly.
In the memorandum, Tulu Nataka Kalavidara Okkoota (Federation Tulu Theatre Artists) said that Dakshina Kannada has over 40 theatre (drama) troupes with about 1,700 artists. Each troupe performs between 10 shows to 20 shows a month. Theatre activity has emerged as an enterprise providing employment to many families that depend on earnings from performances.
The federation said that some self-styled persons who claim to be protectors of “daivaradhane” have threatened the theatre artists through social media posts saying they will stop plays and cinemas related to “daivaradhane”. It is because according to them, theatre artists have been humiliating “daivaradhane” in their plays.
The Okkoota said that nobody can claim a patent or rights over “daivaradhane” which is a spiritual worship belonging to all. Theatre artists have never humiliated the spiritual worship and in fact have been promoting it with due respect in their performances. The self styled protectors of “daivaradhane” can not control the spiritual worship as per their whims and fancies by instructing the theatre artistes which costume should be used or not while featuring “daivaradhane” on the stage. The vested interests cannot direct the theatre artists on which dialogue should be used or dropped.
The federation said the district administration should provide security to the theatre troupes during the performances to prevent any attempts of disturbing the shows by the self-styled protectors. It should instruct the police to provide security. The protection should also be provided during the screening of related cinemas.
