Samashti, a Kannada amateur theatre group, will stage Pramilarjuneeyam, a Kannada adoption of the Shakespeare’s famous A Mid Summer Night’s Dream, directed by Ninasam graduate Manjunath L Badiger at Rangashankara at 7.30 pm on March 31. About the play: Shakespeare’s intertwined love polygons begin to get complicated right from the start as Jayantha and Vasantha both want Kairave but her heart longs for Jayantha. However, Kairave’s father wants Vasantha for a son-in-law.On the outside is Padmini, who secretly admires Vasantha. Kairave and Jayantha plan to flee from the city under the cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Vasantha (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Padmini). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Manmatha and Rathi were having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Manmatha’s head mischief-maker, Ashuga, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see on waking up. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Arjuna and Pramila’s wedding (one of whom is given a donkey’s head by Ashuga) and what ensues is a recipe for comic relief.About the director: Manjunath L Badiger is a Ninasam graduate and was also an actor in the Ninasam’s Tirugata. He has learnt Yakshagana professionally at the Udupi Yakshagana Kendra and holds a Janapada Diploma from Ramanagara Janapada Loka. Presently, he is working as an artiste and director of the team. He has directed plays like Harinabhisarana, Bommanahalliya Kindari Jogi Kathana, Miss Sadarame, Chitrapata Ramayana, Dashanana Swapna Siddi, Sathyagraha, Shudra Tapasvi, Samba Shiva Prahasana, Khaidi, and many more. As an actor so far he has acted in Ashadada Ondu Dina, Samabhashiva Prahasana, Navilu Ninthava, Karmugila Minchu, JathakaRingana, Urubanga, Miss Sadarame, Avasthe, Modalagithi, Amani, Saafalya, Kaidi and many more.Members of Samashti, which was born in the year 2000, have dedicated their lives to Kannada theatre. The main purpose of the troupe is to discover new aspirants, train them in all aspects of theatre and bring them to the forefront of Kannada theatre. To achieve its objectives Samashti has organised several free theatre camps so far. It has also started a Theatre School under the title ‘Sunday School of Drama’ specially designed for working people, and has presently stepped into the second year’s curriculum.
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