If the criteria for living is culture, art is its manifestation, opined folk scholar Prof. H.S. Ramachandregowda.

Speaking after inaugurating ‘Nirantara Ranga Utsava-2013’ theatre festival organised by Nirantara Foundation at Vanaranga in Rangayana premises here last evening, he said if man fails to inculcate art in his daily life, it means that he has lost his humanity.

“Through art, we revive our vitality again and again. And we celebrate festivals to regain this vitality through art. The festivals remove the stillness and hatred within us, and create new vitality. With the entry of western art into our country, we have come to believe that our art is just for entertainment. But it is a manifestation of life and takes a critical look at the society,” the scholar articulated.

An artiste is an analyst of the society and his critiques on stage cannot be questioned as he does so with a view to preserve the health of the society, he said and added that a person who indulges himself in art is above any caste or religion.

Prior to the inauguration, Sundaresh and Ningaraju troupe presented puja kunitha from Rangayana main entrance to Vanaranga.

Karnataka Urban Water Supply & Drainage Board MD K.S. Prabhakar, Kannada and Culture Commissioner K.R. Ramakrishna, Nirantara Foundation’s Prasad Kundur and others were present.

Samashti troupe staged Rabindranath Tagore’s play ‘Chirakumara Sabha’, directed by Manjunath L. Badiger.

Nirantara Ranga Utsava will conclude on March 2 with the staging of a play everyday at 7 pm. Entry fee to the play is Rs. 30 per head. Aneka troupe will stage the play ‘Nandaraja Vioda Arthath Shaniprabhava’ today.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore