A Game Called Life

The festival,which ended on Sunday,brought together some of the prominent films of the actor-director,besides rare screenings of two of his famous stage plays. It also included the launch of Khelta Khelta Aayushya,the Marathi translation of his autobiography. A “master-class” with Karnad and the screening of four short-films made by him were the other highlights of the festival. Overwhelmed with the response that the festival received,Karnad says,“I am deeply touched with the love that my Pune fans have bestowed upon me. It is a great honour for a Kannada writer like me to have a festival of my works organised in a culturally rich city,such as Pune.”

The Jnanpith award- winning playwright began his career with the Kannada play Yayati in 1961,which he wrote when he was only 23 years old. It was the story of a king Yayati,one of the ancestors of the Pandavas,who,being cursed into premature old age by his preceptor,asks his sons to sacrifice their youth for him. The play,which ridiculed the ironies of life through characters in Mahabharata,became an instant success and was translated and staged in several other Indian languages. Some of his critically-acclaimed plays are Tughlaq,which was staged by the National School of Drama Repertory under the direction of Ebrahim Alkazi,Hayavadana,Nagamandala and Taledanda,among others.

A hardcore theatre person,Karnad thinks that Mahaharashtra,especially Pune has a vibrant theatre culture. “Most of the interesting stuff on stage has been happening in Maharashtra. Even the recent films are so rich and intelligent,” he says,adding ruefully that despite having several noted authors and playwrights in Bangalore,the Karnataka capital hardly has culture of going to the theatres. “It must probably be because the young crowd has their evenings busy,” says Karnad in a wondering tone.

Karnad,who is noted for his films such as Utsav (1984) which is one of his most acclaimed directorial ventures is saddened by today’s films. “It must have been almost 10 years since I last saw a film. They do not interest me anymore,sadly,” he says in a dismissive tone.