A Sahyadri Ranga Tarang production of Girish Karnad’s play was staged at Kuvempu Ranga Mandira on October 5. Audiences responded warmly to the performances and the historical set.
More than 500 people watched Sahyadri Ranga Tarang’s staging of Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq in Shivamogga on October 5. The play was performed at Kuvempu Ranga Mandira, where the production drew an enthusiastic response from theatre-goers.
Written in 1964 and set during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the play was presented against a fortress-like set that evoked its historical setting. The restrained design was praised for creating atmosphere without excessive decoration.
H.S. Nagabhushan played Tughlaq, Poornima the stepmother, N.K. Halesh Barani and N.K. Chidananda Azeem. Their performances drew repeated applause.
In a few early scenes, background music and humming overlapped with the dialogue, making it briefly difficult to follow. The sound balance improved later, after which the actors’ delivery held the audience’s attention through the rest of the evening.
Director R.S. Halaswamy thanked the audience, including those who stayed after the curtain to congratulate the cast. The performance was dedicated to the memory of theatre director Chidambara Rao Jambe, who died recently.