mangalore today

Tulu actor takes real-life stories to stage


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 15, 2017: Devdas Kapikad is a well known Tulu actor and a household name in Dakshina Kannada. He has made the young and old laugh and happy. Being an actor, director, scriptwriter, singer, composer, lyricist, music director and playwright of Tulu films and theatre, all rolled into one, he is best known for his comedies and satire.

Devdas Kapikad.He told media "Most people in today’s world are stressed out. My aim is to make them laugh and help them to relax. I select real-life incidents and situations as my themes. I always observe and write on natural stories, natural incidents and natural characters," Devdas says. He, turns these into satirical pieces on stage. "Although these plays have a comic undertone, they put across a social and moral message," he adds. He also sees to it that there are no vulgarities, so that people from all age groups can watch these plays and movies together. He has not only performed in various parts of Karnataka, but also staged shows in Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Maharashtra as well as the Middle East.

His first successful play was Bale Cha Parka (Come, Let’s Have Tea). He has written some 50 play scripts after that. His popular plays include Gante Yethand (What’s The Time), Yeer Dhoora (Where Are You Going?), Pudhar Deethiji (Yet To Be Named),Mamu (Uncle) and Babu. His most recent work is Kode Budpale (Open Your Umbrella).

His films include Telikeda Bolli (Laughing Star), Chandi Kori (Wet Chicken), Barsa(Rain) and to-be-released Are Marler (Half Crack).


Bane of modern depiction of local rituals, customs :   An organization dedicated for the promotion of Tulu and culture of Tulunadu, is up in arms against making Daiva Kola Nrithya part of entertainment during parties and family functions. Daiva Kola and bhootharadhane are the main traditional practices that people of Tulunadu follow as part of religious festivals in temples and ancestral houses in the region. However, such ritualistic dances like Kola Nrithya and Bhootharadhane, nowadays, have become a part of DJ parties during mehandi, marriage, birthday and other celebrations.

The jockeys, who host the party, play the traditional music of Kola Nrithya and Bhootharadhane inviting youngsters to dance to the same steps. That’s not all. Many have uploaded such videos of dance parties with youths dancing to the tune of Kola Nrithya on social media. Many such videos of these DJ parties have gone viral on the social media.

Taking a tough stand against portraying ritualistic dances along with DJ music, Jai Tulunad is planning to meet the deputy commissioner.


Ashwath Tuluva, president, Jai Tulunad, told TOI that the organization will meet the DC to request him to put a stop on such practices that hurts their religious sentiments. "We have drafted a memorandum expressing our grief against Kola Nritya being presented at DJ parties. We will submit the memorandum to the deputy commissioner in a day or two. When DJs play music of Kola Nrithya and Bhootharadhane, guests who arrive for the party start dancing to its tunes. Many videos of DJ parties with Kola Nrithya were found on YouTube and other social media," he said.


The organization has succeeded in convincing those who had uploaded these videos to remove it. "We also have spoken to most of the DJs in the district. We have asked them not to play the traditional music of Kola Nrithya during parties and other ceremonies. They should understand that Daiva Kola and Bhootharadhane are part of our worship and it should not be seen as an entertainment," Ashwath said.

Many start dancing to music after taking drinks too. "We have found one such visual of a tippler dancing to Kola Nrithya music on facebook with the title ’funny video’. We are also planning to file complaints using legal provisions against such abuse," he added.