Kalaburagi Rangayana’s repertory to stage Shantarasa’s novel-based play ‘Sannagowdasani’

The acclaimed novel 'Sannagowdasani' by writer Nadoja Shantarasa is set to be staged by the repertory artists of Rangayana, Kalaburagi, on August 10 at the Dr. S.M. Pandit Rangamandir in Kalaburagi. The joint announcement was made at a press conference on Saturday by Rangayana director Sujatha Jangamshetty, who revealed that the production is being organized in collaboration with the Department of Kannada and Culture, Kalaburagi.

The performances will be inaugurated by Karnataka Information Commission Chairman B. Venkata Singh. Chief guests include Basavaraj Hugar from the Department of Kannada and Culture, Rangayana Administrative Officer Sidram Sindhe, Bagalkot Rangasamaja member Mahantesh M. Gajendragad, and Kannada Prabha reporter Sheshmurthy Avadhani.

Playwright-adaptor Mahantesh Navalkal, along with director Praveen Reddy Gunjannahalli, will also be present. Music for the play was composed by Raghav Kammar of Dharwad, with the stage songs and ghazals rendered by Kammar and his team. Stage design and props were handled by Rajkumar S.K., while lighting was managed by Srinivas Doranahalli, who also served as co-director.

Rangayana director Sujatha Jangamshetty highlighted how Shantarasa's works depict rural life in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, specifically exploring the social, political, economic, and religious dimensions of village life through the story of Mehboob Jan. The novel presents a diverse range of characters, showcasing both virtues and shortcomings in human nature.

Ms. Jangamshetty also mentioned that the ghazals of Shantarasa will be included in the production as a tribute to the writer. Rangayana, Kalaburagi, was established to sustain theatre activities and develop a regional theatre movement rooted in the area's cultural context.