Theatre group to stage play highlighting threats to scholars in state

Time of India

2 days ago

Pic: Samudaya Raichuru, an amateur theatre group will enact the play Raktha Vilap in Ballari on Sunday. A scene from this drama, which is based on Prof MM Kalburgi's assassination
Ballari: Samudaya Raichuru, an amateur theatre group, is enacting its popular play 'Raktha Vilap' in Ballari at Vaidya Bhavan, BMRC, Ballari on Sunday evening.
The play has already created a buzz in Karnataka for its unique theme and story. Several amateur drama artistes are devoting their time and effort to make this play popular across the state for the past year.
The first show was enacted on May 19, 2024, in Raichur. In the last year, twelve shows were conducted, and the 13th show will be held in Ballari on Sunday. The show has already received an overwhelming response from the audience and theatre lovers in Raichur, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Sindhagi, and other parts of the state.
Praveen Reddy, the director of the play, told TOI that the Raktha Vilap play is based on real incidents and serious issues concerning the society. It makes the audience give serious thought to issues ranging from freedom of expression to intellectual freedom in India after watching this play. This play is based on the life of scholar and thinker Dr MM Kalburgi, who was shot dead at point-blank range at his residence in Kalyan Nagar, Dharwad, on the morning of Aug 30, 2015.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription?
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
The assassination of Prof Kalburgi shocked the nation and left the literary world in grief and shock. The play, which focuses on Prof Kalburgi's life, especially the assassination part, is conceptualised by Dr Vikram Visaji.
"In the play, we have not used Prof Kalburgi's name for the character, though it is based on his life story. The characters in the play are not given any names but are known by the roles they play in the drama.
For example, the person playing the advocate is referred to as the advocate in the play rather than using any names," Praveen said. As the play revolves around Prof Kalburgi's assassination, a person identified as Yuvak approaches the scholar character at his residence and gets into discussions and arguments with him over some ideological issues.
Finally, the person (Yuvak) kills the scholar, he said.
Praveen, who also essayed the role of the scholar representing Prof Kalburgi in the drama, said this play will throw light on how scholars face threats and lose their lives for speaking the truth. "It also aims to send a message that killing is not a solution. If there is any confusion or misunderstanding, it needs to be solved through dialogue rather than taking lives, he said. We are planning to enact this play in all universities to motivate students to take a good path rather than choosing the wrong path under the influence of fundamentalists," he said.
"Prof Kalburgi's family members also watched the play and and lauded our efforts when it was enacted in Dharwad and Vijayapura," said Praveen.