Prisoners capture viewers’ hearts through Shivarathri

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 5, 2012 : A group of prisoners from four jails in Karnataka staged the play Shivarathri as part of the 4-day theatre festival organized by Sankalpa, a theatre training organization for prisoners launched by Hulagappa Kattimani, the theatre artist, and the department of prisons.

After the play, one of the key characters in the play made an appeal for the release of prisoners for good conduct. The appeal spoke of the differences between the governor and the government and of how these differences prevent the release of prisoners for good conduct. It also pointed out that no prisoner was released for good conduct after 2006.

The play was a dramatic depiction of the debate between Basavanna, the 12th century social reformer, and King Bijjala regarding the state’s unacceptable laws. Dharanesh, the key character of the play, conveyed the message of how laws need to be based on dharma. Later, he delivered a speech in which he said that everybody inside the jail cannot be termed bad and everybody outside the jail cannot be termed good. He also appreciated the directors of the play who ate jail food with them and refused to see them as criminals.

Lakshman Mallur, a theatre artiste in Mangalore, felicitated all those who acted in this play.

The threatre festival will come to an end this evening.