Jnanpith Rangothsava : Day-5

Caption: Students viewing the library books of the eight Jnanpith awardees which was arranged by one of the lecturers of SDM College as part of Bahuroopi seminar which was held at the college yesterday.

Mysore : Jan.19:

Former Chairman of Karnataka Sahitya Academy Prof. M.H. Krishnaiah has opined that the works of Jnanpith awardee late Dr. V.K. Gokak were unique as they portrayed creativity, intellectuality and equality.

He was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on the thoughts of V.K. Gokak oragnised as part of Bahuroopi festival at SDM Women’s College in Krishnamurthypuram here yesterday.

“The play Jananayaka of Gokak very well depicted the atrocities of the then province heads and jahagirdars which seems quite relevant to today’s mining barons and politicians. Similarly the play Yuganthara clearly drove the point that happiness is not achievable through anything but is an entity to qualify one’s own contentment,” he said.

“During my tenure as the Academy Chairman, it was proposed to bring out a 16-volume collection on Gokak but it could not be accomplished. Now two volumes are ready and the rest are it the process which may be through soon,” added Prof. Krishaiah.

Prof. A.S. Jayaram, Prof. H.L. Pushpa and others presented opinions and discussed on the works of Gokak.

Gokak’s son Anil Gokak, Rangayana Director Dr. B.V. Rajaram, litterateur Prof. Chandrashekar Patil, College Principal Prof. M. Balachandre Gowda and others were present.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 19th, 2012

Jnanpith Rangothsava : Day-6

Caption: Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah, President, Kuvempu Prathishtan, Koppal, speaking on Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar at the seminar organised as part of Bahuroopi at Maharaja’s College here this morning. Others seen are Maharaja’s College Principal Dr. C.B. Ramachandrappa, Dramatist Prof. H.S. Shiva Prakash and Rangayana Director Dr. B.V. Rajaram. Picture shows a section of the participants attending the seminar.

Mysore: Jan. 19:

Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar was a great writer with a lot of humanitarian concerns, said Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah, President, Kuvempu Prathishtan, Koppal, here this morning.

Inaugurating the seminar on Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar as part of the 6th day’s programme of Bahuroopi National Theatre Festival at the Centenary Hall of Maharaja’s College in city, he described Maasti as a big hearted writer who loved even his critics.

Recalling the broadmindedness of Maasti, Nagarajaiah said when A.N. Krishnarao, who had critised Maasti, passed away, Maasti covered the chest portion of Krishnarao’s body to protect it from mosquitoes and flies.

Dwelling upon the nature of Venkatesh Iyengar, Hampana recalled how Maasti had reacted to Gopalakrishna Adiga’s comment during the 75th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana that he had not been paid sufficiently by saying “Becoming the President of the Sammelana itself was a big prize.”

Rangayana Director Dr. B.V. Rajaram, in his address, said that a Sahitya Sanchike will be released on the works of Maasti and lauded the services of Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar in the field of literature.

KSOU Vice-Chancellor Dr. K.S. Rangappa and Dramatist Prof. H.S. Shiva Prakash were the chief guests.

Maharaja’s College Principal Dr. C.B. Ramachandrappa, AO Latha K. Biddappa and Student Welfare Committee Chairperson Chethana were among those present.

Poet Prof. H.S. Venkatesh Murthy, Dr. N.S. Taranath and Dr. Nataraj Honavalli presented lectures on Maasti which was presided over by Kannada & Culture Jt. Director K.T. Chikkanna.

Winners: Gajendra, Vijay and Venkatesh won the first three prizes respectively in the essay writing competition on the works of Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 19th, 2012

Mysore, Jan. 16

Bahuroopi Day -3

“Girish Karnad’s contribution to modern Kan-nada literature is immense and his texts captivates the readers,” said My-sore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. V.G. Talwar here this morning.

He was speaking after inaugurating the day-long seminar on “Girish Karnad’s thoughts” at JSS Women’s College, Saraswathipuram, organised as part of Bahuroopi National Theatre festival, which entered the third day today.

“Girish Karnad’s plays in Kannada have been translated into many European languages including German, Spanish, and Polish. His Hayavadana play earned widespread acclamation in Germany while his other famed play Nagamandala was received well in Australia. Apart from scripting plays, he has also acted and directed movies in Kannada and Hindi,” he pointed out and added that he had done yeoman service to the theatre while serving as Director at Pune Film Institute and also at National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi.

M. G. Sadanandaiah, Deputy Director, JSS Mahavidyapeetha’s Publication Division, who was the chief guest, said “Karnad was such a great playwright that he created reality through illusions. He was very clear in this thoughts with no ambiguity. One amongst his many specialities was to depict two faces in a single role and this can be seen in his Anjumallige play. His plays leave the audience much to think about.”

Rangayana Director Dr. B.V. Rajaram, in his keynote address, said Karnad was exposed to travelling theatre groups in his school days. Stressing the need for modern day youth to study Karnad’s works, he said his plays were refreshing, providing mental relief. Karnad’s excellence can be seen in his play Yayati in which one of the dialogue reads as ‘one can walk even in darkness. But no one can walk in the path that has no dreams,’ he pointed out and added that Karnad deserved all the awards that he has been conferred in his long career spanning 3 decades.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 16th, 2012

Kannada and Culture Commissioner Manu Baligar inaugurating the music programme marking the birth anniversary of late Mallikarjun Mansur at Kalamandira on Saturday. Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji, MLC Thontadarya, Priyadarshni Kulkarni, Singer Neela Kodali and others are seen.

Mysore, Jan. 16

“Late Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur was a scholar par excellence for his contribution to music with his inimitable style of infusing emotion to music,” opined Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji.

He was gracing the occasion at a music programme organised jointly by Samvahana Trust, New Edge Foundation, Pune and Department of Kannada and Culture to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Mallikarjun Mansur at Kalamandira here on Saturday.

“Mansur stole the hearts of Mysoreans by rendering the invocation at the World Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in city. He gave music a new form with passion and emotion thus carving a niche for himself in the field of Hindustani music,” the Seer said.

Inaugurating the programme, Kannada and Culture Commissioner Manu Baligar pointed out that Mansur also took Dasa Sahitya to a pinnacle to become a role model for others.

Mansur’s daughter and singer Neela Kodali, MLC Thontadarya, Samvahana Trust President D.N. Lokappa, Secretary D. Nagendrappa and others were present.

R.K. Padmanabha presented a Karnatic vocal recital, Pt. Biswajit Roy Choudhary, a Sarod programme and Priyadarshini Kulkarni, a hindustani vocal recital.

However, the audience strength was quite poor probably owing to weekend and a holiday to follow.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com/ General News / January 16th, 2012

‘Bengaluru Habba’

The Bengaluru Habba has never failed to disappoint the art and culture lovers of the City. Generally, a good mix of dance, music and drama, the habba offers something new every year. This time, the new edition to the habba was a fashion show held by Prasad Bidapa at the spacious Prince of Wales Lawn, The Taj Westend.

Despite the chilly weather, none of the guests were complaining as they enjoyed the show to the fullest. Prasad was the warm host for the evening and was all praises for

Bengaluru Habba and the people behind it.  The first round of the fashion show paid a tribute to the well-known Bangladeshi designer — Bibi Russell.

The models walked the ramp in clothes with artistic designs in shades of white, black and saffron. The showstoppers of this round wore bright saffron outfits and stood out even in the dark of the night. The second show for the evening was a bridal round sponsored by Tamanna, the wedding wear store and Neelkanth Jewellers. Called ‘Bollywood Bling’, this had several rounds showcasing the saris, ghagras and salwars of Tamanna. Rich Indian shades of red, blue and pink took everyone by storm as the female models presented gorgeous wedding wear coupled with the gleaming ear and neckpieces by Neelkanth.

The men donned dazzling sherwanis in black, gold, cream and maroon. The showstopper of ‘Bollywood Bling’ was Ninja Singh, the Ford Supermodel Of The World — India, who showcased a lovely ghagra in peacock blue.

Prasad even called Padmini Ravi and Nandini Alva, the two ladies behind the habba and thanked them personally for their efforts. “We try to innovate events in such a manner every year that the City remains interested in them. For instance, this year we have a scriptwriting and poetry workshop for aspiring writers,” said Nandini Alva. While Padmini Ravi promised, “This year we may have organised things in a hurry. But next year, we promise there will be plenty of time for you all to enjoy each show.”

The art-lovers were not left out either as a number of beautiful paintings by various popular artists from across the country were put on display at The Art Corridor. Manisha, an artist from Assam now settled in Bangalore, had showcased two of her sculptures — two faces. “Each one of us has two eyes, one nose and a mouth but all of us look different. This concept interested me and I decided to make sculptures of the same,” she explained. “It took me a day to make this and it’s a pleasure to be associated with Bengaluru Habba,” she added.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / DHNS / January 18th, 2012