Theater can give new life to life convicts

Theater can give new life to life convicts

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 27, 2015 :  The theater group founded by Sankalpa Mysore and Director Hulugappa Kattimani involves  acting by prisoners who are sentenced to life imprisonment on the charges of murder and other serious crimes. The rare experience has  indeed worked miracles for 26 prisoners who have come to temple town to display their talents and demonstrate the fact that theater and plays would be instrumental in changing the pathways of their lives who had the misfortune to become ’criminals’.

 Crime, conviction, life imprisonment all these terms are indeed fearful for any human. Yet, these  life-sentenced serving convicts in the theater group perform at the three-day theatre festival titled ’Prison to Prison- Theater Journey’. They are relaxed to know that the crime world made them to get in touch with the most healing cure - acting and theater.   

Speaking to media, the lead role in Bhagavadajjukkiyam - Sule Sanyasi Play, Mahesh Balagi aged 29 from Chamarajanagar, who is serving a sentence at Mysore central prison said he has already spent 12 years in prison for murder.

Not planned :   The  crime he says was  totally unintentional and the result of frustration and harassment, he killed his aunt. He was sentenced when he was in PUC. Currently he completed his bachelors degree from behind bars and is now pursuing MA in political science in KSOU. He said theater has infused a new life within him. He was very depressed in the past  years, then he joined the theater group in 2008, which helped him from within.  He said his mother was also convicted even though not part of the crime. But  release would give him and his mother a better life. Acting has made him realise that crime does not pay, he takes classes for his village kids during his parole, motivating them against crime. He attributes much good to the positive changes in his life to theater.

Another inmate  from Mysore prison,  a farmer has already completed his 14 years jail term and is  waiting for release. The crime that he was accidentally involved in  made him to face a hard life in the prison. The activities like acting and Yoga changed his life. He adds that he would lead a decent life after coming out from prison. Shettigar another life convict adds that acting in plays have brought him out from the suffocating environment of prison. Prashanth from Mysore jail says that the prisoners who are convicted for life imprisonment are depressed for a long time.

However, as there is no way out, they are compelled to accept the life.  he says if there is no other option, we look for other ways to overcome our pain and depressions. Acting in theater plays, yoga and other occupations infused life into many convicts. Not only actors, but also prisoners who watch us perform the roles are convinced that there is life beyond prison and crime is a curse. He said once the director selects the actors, the list is forwarded to the prison officials.

The officials give consent based on the behaviour of the convicts. While Manjunath from Bangalore prison adds that almost 25 shows are performed by 26 artists who have come from Bangalore, Mysuru and Dharwad jails. He said during initial years a single convict actor would be accompanied by 7-8 police. However, nowadays only 7-8 police secure the entire group that comprises 30 prisoners. That is the faith and the confidences the prisoner have gained from the jail officials. At present, seven policemen and three drivers have taken the responsibility. A V Ramesh who is the senior most among the convicts, to get associated with the theater group says that he is from Haduvalli in N R Pura,  imprisoned for the murder. He wants to get back to his farm after release, he too has completed his term, being in jail from 1999. He has performed the roles like Antonio, Basavanna, Mahatma Gandhi etc. All these roles have made him to understand real life values.

The inspector in charge of the prisoner from Mysore central prison says that the police are confident that the convicts will not escape. They have already proved their caliber for integrity on previous tours. Although they have ample opportunities to flee, they do not dare. The jail terms have reformed their way of thinking. They are also on the verge of completing their punishments.

After inaugurating the three day fest,  Udupi SP Annamalai said that as per theory the convicts in prisons are more intelligent than normal population. The theater fest is an exceptional attempt to exploit their talents. Crimes are committed unwittingly and rarely intentionally. Prison life brings  lots of changes in the life of the prisoners. He said people should come forward to support the innovative venture. The youth brigade should also be responsible enough to sustain theater arts in the future.