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Kannada theatre scene

Rafting - Term used to describe the way in which some species of marine larvae can become "trapped" in the surface tension of the water and clump together, resulting in mortalities. An air current provided across the water is usually sufficient to eliminate the problem. Otherwise, it is best of the water sports in offering. The adventurers define rafting as "Navigating on the river on inflatable self-bailing raft". Well it could be said that the first rafting sessions were primitive tools of crossing over the river without getting wet.

"This is the first time I felt so much adrenalin run in my veins, the river which was so beautiful was humble enough to handle our rafts with care. Was scared like a puppy before we started but now it's a different feeling…. well the best part is if I can do it any one can" said the exited Ramaa Rao (doesn't know how to swim) a Technical Writer after her first ride on Cauvery river in Dubare. The other software engineer Ajith said after his rafting ride in Bheemeshwari said "this is really good but not as expected after watching so much grade VI rafting on TV. But if this is grade II then the best way I can enjoy a grade VI is only on TV". Both these rafters did not know how to swim!!!

Karnataka the forerunner when it comes to innovations is the only place in south India to offer rafting. There are four places situated in different rivers with different grades of rafting. John Polad, a British citizen started rafting December 1999 four years back in Kali River. From then on until today, the number of people who raft has increased steadily and reached 1000 per month in our state. The rapids vary from I to III where I being the easiest and III being the hardest. In India, the highest grade is around VI in river Ganga. Rafting is on offering in four different rivers in Karnataka. 

Cauvery River in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Bheemeshwari where the water is controlled by KRS and is grade I. This is the closest destination to Bangalore it lies 100 kilometers away in the green and clean campus of Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Bheemeshwari. The 14 kilometers stretch takes about two hours to complete and is enjoyed by everyone. The rafting here is seasonal from June to December depending on the dam controlled water and rains. 

Cauvery river in Dubare, Coorg Wildlife Sanctuary which is purely flood water and is another 14 kilometers stretch on grade I and II rapids. This lies 200 kilometers from Bangalore in Dubare Jungle Lodges and Resorts. The rafting here is seasonal from June to December depending on the amount of rainfall. 

Dandeli wild life sanctuary offers Kali river stretch for 14 kilometers and is operational throughout the year (Thanks to power generating dams after Supa Dam). Situated 450 kilometers away from Bangalore offers the best rapids (II to III) and waters.

Fourth and the final spot for rafting is Seeta River, which is seasonal is based in Someshwara Wild Life Sanctury in Aagumbe. Even this runs 14 kilometers and is around 350 Kilometers from Bangalore. The river boasts of grade III rapids and is purely floodwater controlled. 

Rafting needs few but essential equipment like Life jackets, Helmets, Paddles, Throw bags, first aid and rescue kits. Walkie-talkie and rescue kayaks are added advantages for increased safety.

Mr. Vinay Luthra, Managing Director of Jungle Lodges and resorts (who is the patron of Rafting and Kyaking in Karnataka said "we believe in providing outdoors to our clients and not just hotel facility. In Dandeli with controlled release of water (Supa Dam) for power generation with nice rapids was ideal for water sports. It was our way of giving value added service to customers and after we started rafting the loss making Dandeli turned into profit generating property. We started rafting this year in Seeta River and Cauvery River in Dubare. We are planning to start rafting on Varahi river which enjoys the continues flow of water for power generation.

Ashok Kumar, Director, Ozone India who is a big patron of the sport said "We operate in Cauvery Fishing Camp in Bheemeshwari for Jungle Lodges and we are planning to start operations in Periar River, Kerala and would come out with a package soon. In next season (June to October) we are starting in Coorg in Cauvery and other rivers". 

John Pollard, British citizen who runs Southern River Adventure and started the commercial rafting operation in Karnataka observed that "when it started no idea, how it would be received in south India but with the proactive support of Jungle Lodges the rafters have increased by five folds. People were scared initially, with non-swimmers being encouraged and the minimum age reduced to 12 it has definitely increased confidence and participation". He also was proud of the professionally run set up and one of the safest spots in Asia.

The cost of each rafting expedition varies from 1200 to 450 and please contact the offices below for the time and booking of your rafting schedules. 

Jungle Lodges and Resorts - 5597024/25/21
Ashok Kumar, Ozone India - 3561871/72
John Pollard, Southern River Adventure - 94481 34379

Do you remember the cycling days when we had wild learning days trying to balance the cycle on two wheels with foot on the paddles and hand on the bars? Kayaking is very similar where balance plays an important role. Here you do have a paddle replacing the cycle bar, have cosy seating with foot stretched in yoga posture. Problem remains the same balance; even a slight miscalculated movement can turn you upside down with no easy way to free your neither foot nor air to breathe. Welcome to the world of kayaking!!

Do not panic and take a decision of never kayaking. With instructors of 30 years cumulative experience today even, a non-swimmer can kayak with ease. Its extra fun, personal and easier compared to any down current water sport. It gives you your space and the better communication with the kayak better the ride on the river. If you like driving a two-wheeler in a country road with cold breeze and fresh air definitely try out kayaking.

Kayaks are considered the elite of the river-running craft: they are more versatile, more manoeuvrable and more fun than rafts. These small, closed, keel less boats, sometimes called canoes, were developed over thousands of years by our ancestors to cross the rivers without getting wet and used many materials including wood, animal skin etc. There are different materials used for making kayaks, which include hard-shell, foldable and inflatable rubber. It was a Scotsman, John MacGregor, who in the 1860's was responsible for recreational kayaking in the form we know it today. He adapted the native designs and built decked Kayaks that had sails as well as paddles, and he founded the Canoe club. 

Ashok Kumar, Director, Ozone India says "We also run inflatable and white water kayaks in above-mentioned properties. We are already doing commercial operations in Cauvery. We are soon introducing two men inflatable kayaks in Cauvery".

R Y Shridhar the Chief of operations for Cauvery Fishing Camp just wanted to say, "hit the river shoot the rapids" while talking about his personal kayaking experience. Munikrishna a hard core adventure enthusiast who has been kayaking for last two and half years said "Kayak ride is all about balance and the way you handle the kayak. Its like your friend if you understand and follow the rule and if you are not it sure will make you drink lots of water!!"

Sundar Raj, Manager at CFC Bheemeshwari said "with introduction of water sports like Kayaking and rafting it has increased our business and gives our clients a varied rainbow of activities. We also have observed that poaching and other illegal activities are controlled with increased sighting of such activities and proper actions against the criminals".

With the vegetarian, crocodiles in Bheemeshwari trying my kayaking skills gave a shocking revelation. I was too clumsy to kayak because ever time I lifted the paddle to push the water my body leaned backwards a little and I toppled many times just to get the balance right. Now the only thing saved me was the twenty-minute safety training before the start of any expedition. Yes, I admit that I gave up kayaking just over 20 minutes and 10 meters distance!!

If this is not enough a single wrong movement like leaning back or front can easily tilt you upside down and if you don't want to drown in water you have around 30 seconds to get your foot out from the sinking kayak. Thanks to the inflatable kayaks now, it is not such a nightmare you can do some minimal adjustment, which could have toppled you over in a white water kayak. 

The cost of each kayaking expedition varies depending on venue and place. Please contact the offices below for the time and booking of your rafting schedules.
Jungle Lodges and Resorts - 5597024/25/21
Ashok Kumar, Ozone India - 3561871/72

When Julia Roberts said "Reading a book in a beanbag chair in front of my fireplace is a great luxury - to sit down with a whole day free and barrel through a book" she did really give importance to the piece of her relaxing furniture beanbags. With the fast growing and fast culture, our bodies need to rest some times and Beanbags are the best according to most of us.

An official dictionary definition of beanbag chairs: a chair like a large beanbag covered with vinyl, fabric, etc. and filled with foam pellets, as of polystyrene, that shift about to fit one's body. 

In 1960's during the pop revolution hitting the world, there was a small invention in the furniture industry and they named it "Sacco". With a leather cover and pear-shaped with expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) beads the bags rolled into the world market.

Its popular belief that the discovery was accidental when polystyrene (Styrofoam) off-cuts were thrown into a bag at the end of the Styrofoam production line and used accidentally by a foreman for relaxing in his break. But it was in 1969, the first beanbag chair was created by Italian designers Gatti, Paolini and Teodora for the furniture firm Zanotta. 

Rajesh Bidappa MD of ADS and a huge fan of Beanbags says that "it's the best invention of our time, it could be your couch, bed, pillow and many other things and its affordable compared to other relaxing furniture". But the bean bag culture never fades Ashok of Ozone India says that "they are so good that they accommodate you by taking your shape and also are not as delicate as other furniture". Mattel, the world's largest toy maker, has a 2000 square foot think tank for employees that include desks with wheels, chalkboard walls, and beanbag chairs to encourage spontaneous collaboration.

Beanbags have many uses starting from Feng Shui to therapies. Few other popular uses of bean bags have been pet ramp and nest, child comfort zone, extra back support, high fashion home decorating, occasional seating, bed rests and lounger (putting two or more beanbag chairs together to create a cosy seating space).

But, Arundathi, a final year student of physiotherapy from Bangalore Medical College suggested "using the bag for more than four hours can cause postural abnormalities hampering the neck and back areas. This bag is not advised for patients with spondylosis and disc collapse". Adding to her comments Ramaa Rao a Technical Writer in Novell Software says "those are the worst possible inventions which will turn any users active evening into a lazy, messy and soggy disaster. They not just pamper you but indirectly take you away from the activities which you used to engage in otherwise. We can recall some years back when after few deaths of small children suffocating themselves inside zippered beanbags, there was a movement to call back the same by the manufacturers in USA.

There has been a steady increase of bean bag users in Bangalore at least, Sumanth and Ratna a Software couple said "we are planning our house soon and there would be a room with the theme of beanbags where in all furniture starting from couch till beds would be bean bags, this is one element of luxury which we would not miss in our new house". Adding to this Ramya, Sales In charge of Lifestyle Store who sells two bags a day says, "its mostly taken by our foreign customers and it really relaxes anybody who uses it, including me!". 

Latha Girish, Forti Fori Classic Pvt. Ltd., one of the leading manufacturers of beanbags says, "it's easy to manufacture with vinyl leather and thermacoal beads, we send out 20 - 25 bags a month. Our filling is famous for its good quality and cheap cost. But, who ever invented it hats off to him and all of us in our house freak out on these bean bags"

Anitha Chris Evert another beanbag fan who has named her company Beanbag Studio had an emotional quote "Amazing how so many little beans can add up to form a unit that's so comfortable! Such a simple idea, yet so innovative and so special. Always shifting, moving, changing within its space and doing all the hard work while you sit back comfortable and relaxed" well now its left to you to decide to go for it or to stick on with the current furniture.

BOX ITEM

When shopping for beanbag chairs furniture, make sure to ask these questions. 
~ How long is the beanbag chair warranty and what does it cover? 
~ Is there a machine-washable beanbag chair cover?
~ Is there a separate liner that holds the beanbag filling? 
~ What is the beanbag liner made of? (Water-repellent is best) 
~ What do the seams look like? Are they easy to see or hidden? 
~ Are the beanbag chairs seams double stitched? 
~ Does the beanbag liner have a child resistant zipper? 
~ How long does it take to ship and receive the beanbag chairs? 
~ Can you buy more beanbag filling? 
~ Can you get swatches free to see the beanbag chair fabrics?

Did you know that using real beans would make beanbag chairs too heavy to be practical?

Gujrati's from the home of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi are known for their strong business culture and eating out. They are also known to be strong will powered who will rise from ashes like the phoenix. Their lighthearted attitude allows them to mingle with any community or culture without a problem. There is no town in the world where you wont find a Gujrati but they wont be announcing their presence like others but will be living their life just like the locals do. Something to the accurate effect of being a "Roman in Rome".

Their huge and long presence in Karnataka has earned them huge respect from everyone in the state. We can even sight the example of our CM hosting a high tea session for them last year. They are practically in all businesses and most of the old economy businesses run by Gujrati community is concentrated in and around Gandhinagar. The notable professions run by them are sanitary ware, Travel, Books and Garments.

As the name suggests Karnataka has been kind to all communities. This is no flimsy statement, supporting this Kajal Mehta, Student of MSRMC "Friends have been very kind to me and they treat me like their own family member, I feel at home even when I am away from my own family roots in Rajkot". There are many more in Bangalore who feel more at home here than in their native town.

Food plays an important role in a Gujrati's life. Mustafa Safi Kalingi a software engineer and a Bohra Muslim had to say "most of the Gujrati's freak out on food. Snacks like Kachori, Chaats, Dhokla, Chewda, Bhujia are all consumed at any given time of the day". Traditionally a close nit trading community following the policy of non-interference. Sapna Na Vavetar on Alfa Gujrati channel has still kept the Gujrati audiences mesmerised. Majority of the population now relay on Hindi TV soaps and some of them are even remakes of popular Gujrati soaps.

Hardly any Bangalorian would not know about the Dandia Rass during Navratri festival. This is a huge local following to this since now it has turned out to be a good place for boys and girls to meet. Not just Gujju crowd but also many local crowds are drawn into this celebration. Other important festivals followed by Gujrati community in Bangalore are Pajoshan and Sankrath.

The play's promotional campaign reads, "Persons below 18 years will not be admitted". It opens to a bunch of curious audience who get to see audiovisual images, which they are used to seeing on TV or in Movies. Nevertheless, they are disturbed and could not believe their eyes and ears. This is common with plays, which are purely for adults. 

But this is true with most of the plays, which are being staged worldwide. There has been a separate category created for such kind of plays called In-Your-Face Theatre. There are many exponents for this play and this started as a parallel theatre culture to converse with the audience in more realistic and hard-hitting way.

We could trace the history of this not very far back with avant-garde theatre. This French word was a movement held prominence in the modern period, a period that could be loosely described as the late 20th century. Furthermore, the term, Avant-garde is a military metaphor, which literally means, advance-guard. It can be interpreted in a revolutionary sense too, that is against an overpowering state. More specifically, the avant-garde movement consisted of a small amount of artist in its embryonic state, and most often represented themselves as being alienated from the established order because they challenged the norms and values held by that established order then. From there to the modern times it has changed a lot and been accused as a marketing tool to sell or to achieve success of a production.

The international trendsetter Michael John Garces can turn day today events like A TV turns to static, A young girl lies motionless on a bed, A man in a suit enters a dark kitchen, loosens his tie, and opens a refrigerator, to become suspenseful and disturbing. His productions at the Juggerknot Theatre Company are widely acclaimed In-Your-Face productions

Recently in Bangalore there was a play "filth" directed by Preetam Kolipillai was staged. This was also tagged the adult play written by Irvine Welsh and adapted by Harry Gibson. The books of Welsh and Gibson's adaptations are well known in the world and the productions well acclaimed. The Gibson play "Trainspotting" even saw 23 different line-ups for the four members on stage crew. Not only physically demanding for the artists these plays is hard to digest for any age group audience. 

Gibsons previous production Nightmares was a grand success, and he was commenting on his next production Trainspotting around the country and said in one of his online interviews "It's filthy expensive because it's an epic panto from hell. I might do a small version of it in which a small group of naked people savage each other in a cage. I'm completely serious about that. I'm very into sensationalism, I'm a shocking sensationalist." With such quotes the production has already has achieved the necessary publicity ensuring its success. I just hope this is not continued here in India.

Preetam fells that these productions are grittier than the usual theatre. This represents the logical movement of changed time. Talking about "filth", he added that the harsh realities, which get the usual reaction of what the hell 'or' this is not theatre, are the typical urban middle class phenomenon. He added that he would have loved to Indianise the script but with so much extra involvement with the script there were instance where there could not have been absolute equivalence to Indian scene.

Strangely enough, Preetam did not get a single bad remark for his play. Strangely enough, the comments were restricted to "good execution, disturbing". One good development observed is the wide spread acceptance by the younger generation.

Talking about this trend of adult's only play Ranjon Ghoshal had a different opinion. If it's a tool used to market or sell the play well its not good for the theatre culture. But if it's a scripts necessary then he doesn't have any objections. He also mentioned Bengali theatre where such explicit performances are scripts necessity and used moderately. He added, "people still go and watch positive theatre and I wouldn't do such explicit theatre myself".

Prakash Babu noted cartoonist and theatre activist sharing Ranjon's idea of the need of explicative performance should be script based. But he added that the productions which are being staged recently have all been text based. Unless the visual based theatre makes a huge comeback then its difficult to keep all ages of audiences entertained and inside the theatre. He added "If script supports nudity its welcome, like the 50 year old nude woman in a Kanhyalal production which was staged in Akka festival in Mysore was never obscene or offending or even disturbing".

These conversations are never ending and they are typical of any production. Again a fight between two schools of thoughts one supporting the idea and one against. The best way to define the need is the audience. If theatre is being promoted in any way whether by hook or crook I support the idea and stand by the same. End of the day people should be driven into theatres like the way it was many years back.

Ninth Century AD: King Nrupatunga wrote Kavirajamarga in the matured script of Kannada. It is the first recognised literary work by any author in Kannada history. Being a set of poems it was recited to people at numerous literary gatherings. Hence, we could also categorise it as the first script in Kannada literature. Kannada theatre has seen a huge wave of changes from the times of Jaina Works, Vachana Literature, Dasa Sahitya till today's Modern Kannada.

When you go to the new look Ravindra Kalakshetra with improved interiors and exteriors and interact with the Kannada theatre activists, you get the same look and feel, as it was many years back. You still get to see the old scripts, which are, staged every week and meetings/readings going on in the Samsa Open Theatre. However, when you ask them the question of this article "what happened to the new age writers, why are we going back to the age of Shakespeare or of Karnard?" Everyone unanimously agree and argue that there is no original theatre work happening. Nevertheless, no one has a concrete answer for Why? 

I clearly remember the days when Ravindra Kalakshetra was bursting centre of Amateur Kannada Theatre activities. Many youngsters used to flock to the theatre to see many big wigs like Shankar Nag, C R Simha and others. The same enthusiasm still prevails in the younger college theatre lovers but where do they disappear? With so many new talents exploring their creativity in theatre field at least we should have on sound writer who can inject freshness and give a new dimension to Kannada theatre, the question is where is he or she?

Theatre is the field where experiments can and are being conducted from the time of its existence. It feeds other mass media like films or TV. When you invest huge sums of money into a movie or a TV serial you would not dare to experiment with that. Of course there are exceptions to this statement and we could sight the example of Ram Gopal Verma's "Bhoot". With such depth and wide-open medium to experiment theatre is the single most important medium of modern day entertainment and communication.

M S Sathhu, had an opinion that there has never been dearth of scripts or writers. He sighted the example of a compilation made in 1964 with 3000 odd original Kannada plays in historical, mythological and other genres. He added that there has been a new trend of converting novels and stories in scripts, which is very healthy to being to light many important Kannada literary works. He supporting this new trend said that there is no original film writing and similarly why cannot you accept the same in Theatre. 

Arundathi Nag speaking about this issue felt that "the current theatre scenario is like the chicken and egg situation, this prevails world wide and it's happening to Kannada theatre too. Kitchen garden play readings which took each and every play to households seems to have disappeared". With her ambitious theatre, project "Rangashankara" she plans to create and nurture theatre talents, which fade away without recognition. 

Suresh Angalli, Chief NSD RRC had a different viewpoint for this subject. He was very enthusiastic to note the growth of amateur Kannada theatre from times of Kailasam till the modern day Jambay, Akshara, Basavalinggaiah. He stressed on the educational value and the professional touch that adds to theatre. In his own words "in a year there are a minimum of 1000 Kannada theatre productions happening all over the state. Note that this excludes company dramas, religious and folk theatre. With such numbers of productions its clear that there is a direction for Kannada theatre already defined".

The cause of no organisation of Kannada theatre except for exceptions like Rangayana or Neenasam where the artists are paid and looked after with high esteem. If we look at Bengali or Marathi theatre, the artists there are proud to be in theatre circle. It is a full-fledged profession. Kannada theatre dose not have the kind of remunerations which other states artists receive. Venky a veteran Theatre and TV artist had strong opposition on the unprofessional attitude of the Kannada theatre activists. He added "we need organised and collective efforts to keep theatre alive. If a new talent sees no security or clarity of his future in theatre he will definitely look at other avenues like TV or Films". 

Creative returns are no more important its financial people are looking at instant returns. This is a proven case at least in the Kannada theatre scene. Arvind S D theatre writer and producer of a well-known youth TV programme, "people need money to live and they can't generate money through theatre. An average script for a daily soap episodes will earn them a minimum of 20 thousand rupees per month, compared to theatre scene where there is no guaranteed returns". 

There are many reasons for the sudden dearth of talent. To start with, it is the plays producer or director who has become choosy. More than choosy they look at their comfort level with the script, which is the backbone of his production. Agreeing to this Malatesh Badiger, well known Theatre Director and Designer commented that he wont direct or design a play unless the same has been read for more than three times. If the story after three personal readings holds his interest then he would consider that for screening. Contradicting this view point Sibu Vaz of The Script said, "If we have people who can put up quality plays then there will be quality scripts. Because the scriptwriter needs inspiration form quality directors and actors. I could sight the example of Shakespeare who used to develop his script as he involved himself in the creation of the play". 

Concluding, there will always be variations in creativity if you take any language to consideration. I would like to quote Arundathi Nag who commented "We had a huge gamut of inspiration amongst us when we were young, all of us now has to think about us being inspiration to the newer generation". With such right attitudes and mind-sets, Kannada theatre will soon achieve its pinnacle and stay there for a long time.