‘Nirdiganta’ expands to coastal Karnataka; theatre initiative to be launched in Udupi on January 18
Udupi: After making a mark in Mysuru through continuous theatre activity over the past two-and-a-half years, theatre collective ‘Nirdiganta’ is set to expand its presence to coastal Karnataka, with the launch of ‘Karavaliya Nirdiganta’ in Udupi on January 18.
Addressing a press conference at the Udupi Press Club on Wednesday, theatre practitioner and actor Prakash Raj, one of the founders of Nirdiganta, said the initiative aims to take theatre closer to people through regular performances, workshops and interaction with audiences.
He said the coastal edition of Nirdiganta will feature a three-day programme comprising children’s plays, an educational theatre workshop and stage productions by different theatre groups. All events will be held from January 18 to 21 at the IYC auditorium of Yakshagana Kalaaranga.
“Nirdiganta began in Srirangapatna and has now come to the coast seeking a new bond with theatre lovers here. Let us watch plays together, talk, and share experiences,” Prakash Raj said.
Children’s plays and workshop on opening day
On the first day, January 18, three children’s plays, an educational theatre workshop and the inaugural ceremony will be held.
From 10.30 am to 11.45 am, students of Aruru Morarji Desai Residential School will stage the play Mruga Mattu Sundari, directed by Bindu Rakshidi. This will be followed by the science-based children’s play Curious by students of Karnataka Public School, Kokkarne, from 12.30 pm to 1 pm. The play, which has won a state-level award recently, is written by Varadaraj BirtI and directed by Rohith S. Baikadi.
An educational theatre workshop will be held from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, where teachers from the coastal region who have long been associated with both education and theatre will share their experiences. Participants include education expert Dr Mahabaleshwara Rao, DIET Udupi lecturer Dr K Kishore Kumar Shetty, Manipal ENGJC vice-principal Nagendra Pai, teacher Varadaraj BirtI, Surabhi institution’s Sudhakar P Baindoor, and theatre director Arunlal.
Inauguration and evening performances
The inauguration of Karavaliya Nirdiganta will take place at 6 pm on January 18. Writer and thinker Fakir Mohammed Katapadi will inaugurate the event in the presence of Prakash Raj. This will be followed by the children’s play Kuni Kuni Navile, written by H S Venkatesh Murthy and directed by Rohith S. Baikadi.
On January 19 at 6.30 pm, the play Devara Aatmahathye, based on writings by Beechi and Srinivasa Vaidya, will be staged by the Sangama Kalavidera team from Manipal. The play is adapted and directed by Ramesh K Benakal.
On January 20 at 6.30 pm, Nirdiganta will present the play Rama, Krishna, Shiva, based on the writings of Lohia, with adaptation, music and direction by Ganesh Mandarthi.
On the concluding day, January 21, the programme Samateya Haadu will be presented at 6 pm in the presence of Prakash Raj. This will be followed by the play Kodalla Andre Kodalla, adapted from Dario Fo’s Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay?, from 7.15 pm to 9.15 pm. The concept, design and direction of the play are by Shakeel Ahmed.
Raju Manipal, Ganesh Mandarthi, Shakeel Ahmed and others were present at the press conference.
Views on governance and cinema
Responding to a question on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completing a long tenure in office, Prakash Raj said records are made by many leaders, but Devraj Urs and Siddaramaiah belong to different times and contexts and cannot be directly compared. He said it would be good for the Chief Minister to maintain stronger control over administration and address allegations of corruption in his close circles to ensure transparent governance.
He said he congratulated Siddaramaiah and described him as a strong backward-class leader, but added that he is not someone who only praises and will also raise questions when required. “We are not a political party. We are a continuous opposition,” he said.
On his career, Prakash Raj said he does not believe in looking back and prefers to keep moving forward, adding that the journey of life matters the most.
Speaking about upcoming films, he said he is acting in Rajamouli-directed Varanasi, Purushavatara, Jananayagan starring actor Vijay, and the Hindi film Drishyam 3.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
