Expressing discontent over the functioning of Kalaburagi Rangayana, theatre artistes associated with Kalaburagi Art Theatre Association and Janapriya Seva Abhivriddhi Sangha on Sunday waylaid a theatre repertory bus which was heading towards Jewargi town for a show. A group of artists from various troupes, led by Sunil Manpade, waylaid the theatre repertory bus outside the Rangayana office and forced the artistes, technicians and Rangayana Director Mahesh Patil to get off the bus and cancel the repertory event.
Mr. Patil, speaking to The Hindu , said: “We were about to leave for Jewargi town for a repertory, when a group of artistes waylaid the bus and started abusing the artistes and the technicians and even threatened the driver.” The agitators dispersed immediately after the police arrived, he added.
Mr. Patil said that after assuming charge as Director of Kalaburagi Rangayana, he has organised 25 theatre repertories, but some vested interests were trying to disturb Rangayana activities.
Mr. Manpade, while expressing unhappiness with the functioning of Rangayana, said that though Ranga Samaj, the governing body of Rangayana, has issued a direction not to organise any event, Mr. Patil was violating it. The allegations also include autocratic behaviour of Mr. Patil and the removal of artistes without any reason.
Mr. Manpade said that local artistes had submitted a memorandum to the Kannada and Culture Minister Jaimala in this regard and demanded that Mr. Patil be removed from the post.
