Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara: The Man and his Works
By Prof. Nataraj Huliyar, Bangalore University

Followed by

‘Singarevva and the Palace’– a Solo Theatrical Performance by Laxmi Chandrashekar

Adapted from the novel by Dr.Chandrasekhara Kambara | Direction Soumya Varma | A Kriyative Theatre Production

About Chandrashekhara Kambara

Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara is a pre-eminent Kannada poet, playwright, folklorist, film director and the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi. He has to his credit 22 plays, 8 anthologies of poems, 3 novels, 12 research works and several scholarly write-ups on folk theatre, literature and education. He has been conferred with many prestigious awards including the Jnanpith Award for the year 2010, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Shri and the Kabir Samman.

About the Performance

An adaptation of the novel ‘Singarevva mattu Aramane’ by Dr.Chandrashekara Kambara, one of the most versatile writers in Kannada, ‘Singarevva and the Palace’ is a powerful portrayal of women in a feudal set up. The adaptation focuses on the women and speaks for them. As wives, mothers and daughters these women are oppressed and exploited by men in different ways. Patriarchal prejudices, fear of society and superstitions, make their lives even more miserable. The play is a unique attempt to explore the possibilities of converting the novel into a solo narrative using a variety of acting styles, techniques, colourful costumes, props and music.

Laxmi Chandrashekar has been in theatre for over thirty five years. She has been part of the Kannada theatre group Samudaya (meaning community), which believes in using theatre as an instrument of social change and has acted major roles in many of Samudaya’s productions as well as in a number of popular television serials. Her role as Kamalu in the popular Kannada serial ‘Mayamriga’ has made her a household name in Kannada speaking families all over. She has received the Aryabhata Award for Best Actress of the Year 2002 for her role in the path-breaking television serial ‘Grihabhanga’, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, one of India’s foremost film-directors.