Theatre changed her lawyer dreams

Ranjitha Surya Vamshi talks about how, when and why she got into Theatre even though her childhood dream was to become a lawyer. She talks about the various people who encouraged and supported her through her journey. She also shares her views on why women should not limit themselves to the four walls of their houses.

For the love of acting

Nayana Sooda, a native of Dakshina Kannada / Karnataka has lived in Bangalore for over 20 years. She shares how she entered the world of theatre. Many people encouraged Nayana to take up theatre right from her early childhood days, including her grandmother. Her talented working mother taught her to dance to ‘Aigiri Nandini’ when she was a child! She also talks about studying in a government school which provided her with opportunities in the areas of theatre and gardening in addition to studying. She and her brother started a troupe Rangapayana, to encourage children from nearby areas to attend theatre and dance camps.

Nava rasas in theatre and life

Shivu shares about how he joined theatre four years ago as an amateur and what his troupe ‘Binka biNaaNa’, which has 40-45 members, does. He believes that theatre is live / alive and one needs to improvise with each show based on the current events and requirements. Hear him share his thoughts about theatre and life. 

The old and the new

Leelavathi is a third generation theatre artiste. Her grandfather, Tumkur Rangappa and her father, Ashwath Narayana were in theatre and films. They used to act in plays way back in 1950s and 60s to feed the family. Leelavathi today runs Karnataka Navachethana Kalaniketana that encourages artistes, especially theatre artistes. Among other things, she talks about how people cheat guillible artists in the guise of making them stars. She also talks about pouranika / mythological plays and how, in earlier decades, the artists would make the character come alive on stage.