Jnanpith unexpected: Karnad

When this correspondent met him, he was busy directing the film in which he plays the character of Chandre Gowda8217;. However, his assistant director, Suresh Kulkarni, said the mood on Wednesday night was jubilant at the house where the unit was staying.

8220;Vijay Tendulkar would have been a better choice. He is much better than me. He is my senior and has written a greater number of good plays,8221; Karnad said.

8220;There are so many other good writers inKannada 8212; Lankesh, Tejaswi, Kambar8230;. There are good number of writers who have contributed to the enrichment of Kannada literature and deserve this award,8221; Karnad said.

In the 1960s, there was a sudden explosion of writers. This Navya8217; style of writing brought out many good writers. 8220;I was lucky that I was born and brought up in an atmosphere where Bendre, Karanth, Adiga and so many other writers were contributing to Kannada literature.8221;

However, that was not to say that the younger generation was deprived of such an influence. 8220;I don8217;t say that we lived in a golden age and the younger generation is deprived of it. I only say that I am lucky to have such an atmosphere,8221; Karnad said.

8220;There was excitement in writing during our generation. Better works came one after the other. There was a sudden emergence of writers during that decade.8221;

8220;The younger generation need not exhibit their talent only by writing. It may be video or television or cinema. There is Baragur, Kasaravalli andNagathihalli who have emerged among the younger generation. Writing alone cannot be the criterion,8221; he said.

According to him, many other social factors contribute to the declining interest in plays staged in an urban area like Bangalore.

8220;For a middle class family, it is a misery to go to a play. Pollution and traffic in Bangalore is terrible. Once the family returns home, they sit in front of the television and do not want to venture out of the house. It is not only less expensive but also safe. However, in Mumbai it is different. Transportation is easy. In Bangalore, our administration has not tackled this issue at all,8221; he says.

There are people who can act in plays. But there are no people to watch them. So one cannot blame the younger generation for not giving good plays.

Karnad had once urged people to come to the theatre to watch plays and films. Was it because of poor response to theatre activity? Is there any need to have an elaborate campaign to encourage theatre?

Karnad feels thatcampaigns are not required for better theatrical activity but for a better social life in Bangalore. We need improvement in city planning, better roads and better transport system, he said.

Does thin attendance during plays reflect the quality of drama? Karnad disagrees. In fact, thin attendance affects the quality of drama. If people watch plays, and the actor gets money he will work on good plays. No wise actor wastes his time on plays which do not attract people.

8220;I too will not do it. An actor who needs money would rather act for a TV serial instead of in a drama which does not earn him any money.8221;

What does he like best? Writing, directing, acting or making films? 8220;I am a writer basically. But since I cannot earn money by writing alone I do films, direct and act. Now I8217;ve got Rs 5 lakh through this Award. Otherwise how can I expect big money from writing,8221; he asks.

As for the favourite among his plays, he says it is his next play. 8220;If I feel satisfied with my present writing I will stopwriting. After writing each play I feel I have left many areas untouched. So I feel like writing again.8221;

On the impact of the award on his writing, he laughs and says he hopes more people will buy his books.