Subhadramma Mansur takes a trip down memory lane

It was a journey down memory lane for Nadoja Subhadramma Mansur, a veteran theatre personality and well-known vocalist, and for connoisseurs of art at the symposium on the life and works of Ms. Mansur, organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture here on Sunday.

Journey

Ms. Mansur, who has turned 75, is a household name through her role of ‘Draupadi’ in ‘Rakta Ratri’. She started her journey six decades ago as a child artiste. “I have served in many drama companies and even now I am giving performances. I thank all those, including my gurus, for their support and blessings without which I would not have been what I am today in the field of theatre,” said Ms. Mansur. She was seen wiping away tears when speakers, Y. Raghavendra Rao, a writer, Nadoja Belagal Veeranna, an renowned exponent of shadow leather puppetry, Nadoja V.T. Kale, a well-known artist, praised her versatile personality and performance.

“Ms. Mansur is a Kala Tapasvini. Despite her family problems, she held the audience spellbound through her mellifluous singing and delivery of dialogues. She lived whichever role she donned,” Mr. Rao recalled.

Struggles

Octogenarian Belagal Veeranna, her contemporary, was of the view that an artiste would emerge successful mainly because of their struggles in life. Artistes Nagarathna and Ramesh Gowda Patil were among the others to recall how Ms. Mansur was a friend, philosopher and guide. K.V. Jagadish, amateur theatre personality and Siddaram Kalmath, writer, spoke in detail about her life and works.

B. Nagaraj, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture, welcomed the gathering.