National Drama Festival at Mudradi to mark the silver jubilee of Nama Tuluver Sanghatane (NATKA)

February 28, 2011

Udupi, February 27: As part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Nama Tuluveru Sanghatane (NATKA), Mudradi, a National Drama Festival is being held here.

Mudradi is a small village in Karkala Taluk of Udupi District surrounded by lush green mountains, paddy fields, tall standing palm and coconut groves close to the shores of Arabian Sea, roaring sounds of waves which can be heard blended with sound of wind and chirping birds. A rich natural place which has given birth to many village industries, banks, education institutions, religious places of worship, various cultural beginnings and above all, has introduced many well known artists to the world.

In 1986, under the patronage of Dharmayogi Mohan of Shri Aadhishakti Temple, Mudradi, was born Nama Tuluveru Sanghatane (R) an association for art lovers in the field of drama who initially indulged in producing new experimental plays to the people of the village, who at that time did not have an opportunity to view these type of dramas. Krishnamurthy Kavathaar's 'Siri Sampige' was the first and foremost play presented by Nama Tuluveru Sanghatane (NATKA) which gave way to an ocean of more and more new plays to the people of this village thus making 'Mudradi' a noted place for art and culture in the neighborhood. Sukumar Mohan, a National Award actor himself, ably leads the NATKA association as President.

NATKA, which has produced and presented more than 60 dramas for the past 25 years with shows going on for more than 500 days providing entertainment and creating awareness, is hoping to find a place in the Guinness Book of World Records soon.

Krishnamurthy Kavathhar, Bhasuma Kodagu, J. Sitharam Shetty Koradi, Jeevanaram Sullia, Pramodh Shiggam, Udyavara Nagesh Kumar, C. Basavalingayya, Sheena Nadoli, Gururaj Marpalli, Raaj Kumar Bengaluru, Dhakshayini Bhat, Mallikarjuna Mahamane were some of the stalwart dramatist mentors who have guided NATKA to participate in various drama competitions and being honoured with more than 125 awards to their credit.

Some of the well known dramas which gave NATKA a big name were 'Siri Sampige', 'Sahebaru Baruthare', 'Pilipathi Gadass', 'Dharmethi Maye', 'Dhombere Chenni', 'Kalaapuratha Kilesi', 'Pampanige Bidha Kanasu', Huliya Neralu', 'Asudho', 'Ondu Chooriya Kathe', 'Media', 'Dhangeya Munchina Dhinagalu', 'Nalpuda Nalike', 'Hoovu', 'Naa Thukarama Alla', 'Vaali' etc. All these dramas were presented either in Tulu or Kannada with many shows to their credit.

Other than presenting dramas, NATKA also has been bringing various other famous drama troupes to the village during Navarathri, under the banner of 'Navarangotsava' thus awakening the taste of culture in the citizens of Mudradi. They used to have conferences, workshops in drama, felicitations to artists in the field of drama and literature, etc all these years, as well. Street dramas were also held by NATKA that included several educational dramas on various subjects like 'Beware of Aids', 'Ondu Hennina Kathe', 'Vijnanada Aatagalu', 'Kasaasura Vadhe' etc. which gave the citizens an awakening message and awareness in the minds of the people.

Now completing 25 years of excellence in the field of art and culture and hosting the Silver Jubilee Year celebrations, NATKA is hosting a National Drama Festival called 'Navarangotsava', a festival of nine dramas of different languages from February 25 to March 5 daily, 7.30pm onwards. These dramas are being staged at B.V. Karanth Ranga Vedike, Udupi Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School Campus, Mudradi.

The inauguration took place on Friday, February 25. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar inaugurated and D.K. Chowta, a well known writer/dramatist, presided over the programme along with Dr. B.V. Rajaram, Dr. K. Marulasiddappa, Prof. G.K. Govind Rao, D.S. Chouguley, Dr. N. Damodhar Shetty & Bharath Kumar Pulipu as the Chief Guests. The valedictory function will take place on Saturday, March 5 at 4.30pm wherein H. Gopal Bhandary will preside with Dr. B. Jayashree as the Chief Guests including guests Divakar N. Shetty & Ashok Kashyap. The programme will be followed by felicitation to some of the known personalities in the field of art and culture in India and abroad.

Following are the plays scheduled to be presented during the 'Navarangotsava':

1. 25th February, 2011 Rangayana Mysore's 'Sadarame' Kannada Play written by Bellave Narahari Shastri & Directed by Y.M. Puttannayya.
2. 26th February, 2011 Charaka Kalavidaru, Heggodu's 'Acharya Prahasan' Kannada Play written & directed by Prasanna.
3. 27th February, 2011 Prayoga Ranga Bangalore's 'Mante Swamy Katha Prasanga' a Kannada Play written by Dr. H.S. Shivaprakash & Directed by Suresh Anagalli.
4. 28th February, 2011 Ranga Niranthara Bengaluru's 'Mittabailu Yamunakka', a Kannada Play of D.K. Chowta adopted by Basavaraj Sulerapalya and directed by Pramod Shiggoa.
5. 1st March, 2011 Dalmiya Theatre Mumbai's 'Muktidhama' a Hindi play written by Ambara Hadapa and directed by Rajendra Sheshaktar.
6. 2nd March, 2011 Kala Jagathu Mumbai's 'Sharashaiyye', a Kannada play written & directed by Thonse Vijaya Kumar Shetty.
7. 3rd March, 2011 Bhodi Natya Parishat Mumbai's 'Thana Mazuri', a Marathi play written by Premanand Gajvi & directed by Ashok Handori.
8. 4th March, 2011 NATKA Mudradi's 'Vaali' a Tulu play written and directed by Gururaja Marpalli.
9. 5th March, 2011 Folk Dance performance by various teams from all over Karnataka called 'Janpadotsava'.

On 27th February, 2011 Sunday from 10 AM to 5.30 PM there will be a debate on Theatre & Drama subjects.
On 5th March, 2011 at around 3.30 PM a tableau procession comprising of various folk dancers will start from the Shri Adhishakti Temple premises leading to the B.V. Karanth Rangavedike, Udupi followed by Folk/Theatre Songs by Dr. B. Jayashree and Troupe at 4.PM onwards.

The entire programme is being held in co-operation with Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, Kannada & Cultural Department, Bangalore and Karnataka Nataka Academy, Bangalore simultaneously.

NATKA's long awaited dream auditorium 'Kala Kshetra' is under construction which is costing around 1 crore rupees. Art lovers have come forward to donate whole heartedly and so far managed to collect around Rs.20 lakhs. An initiative to protect Tulu Culture, the auditorium will have a permanent 'Tulu Folk/Artifacts Museum', Training Institute for Art & Theatre, Training school for Tabla & Yakshagana, Music & Dance School etc., once the construction is completed. Awaiting the sanctions from the Central & State Governments and the art lovers of Karnataka, NATKA will present a beautiful auditorium which will be a gift to the people of the region.

Nama Tuluveru Sanghatane has cordially invited all the drama lovers to come and witness the week long festival. For more information contact:
Sukumar Mohan
[email protected] or [email protected]

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Udupi’s Kamini Island set for eco-friendly development to boost tourism

News Network

November 15,2024

Udupi: The Tourism Department is planning a major eco-friendly development initiative for Kamini Island, located near the Blue Flag-certified Padubidri End Point beach, aiming to attract more visitors while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Assistant Director Kumar CU emphasized that, given the island’s proximity to the Blue Flag beach, all development efforts will center around eco-friendly practices. “We are looking to enhance the Kamini River and the island’s surroundings by adding a hanging bridge, nature trails, and eco-friendly food courts offering traditional cuisine. Visitors will also be able to reach the island by pedal boats or kayaking,” he said.

The development project is estimated to cost between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore. Meanwhile, the Blue Flag beach, Padubidri, continues to see a steady flow of visitors. Vijay Shetty, manager of the beach, shared that tenders for food courts and water sports have been awarded to private parties. Recently, three new coracles have been introduced, which are proving to be a hit with visitors. Additionally, three more shelters are expected to be ready by November 20.

Shetty mentioned that the beach can now accommodate between 2,500 and 3,000 visitors daily, although footfall remains lower than other district beaches due to user fees and activity restrictions. “Initially, most visitors were from Mangaluru, but now nearly 40% come from other districts, showing a shift in the visitor demographics,” Shetty noted.

To further boost tourism and promote a healthy lifestyle, a Beach Carnival is set to take place on November 23-24, featuring the National Sea Swimming Championship and a sea marathon in collaboration with the Padubidri JCI, which is celebrating its golden jubilee. Cultural events will be held at the main beach, with some sports events taking place at the Blue Flag beach. Emphasis will be placed on making all activities environmentally friendly.

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Clean and Green on Wheels: Mangaluru’s Push for Electric Public Transport

News Network

November 13,2024

In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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