Saturday, January 25, 2020

BENGALURU NAGARATHNAMMA - DRAMA

Saturday, 25th January 2020
RangaShankara, Bengaluru



Any presentation by T S Nagabharana, Award winning Theatre and Film Director, is always outstanding. The play is about life of Nagaratnamma, and a fantastic musical/

Bengaluru Nagarathnamma  (1878-1952)  Born in Nanjangud, near Mysuru.  Highly regarded as classical vocalist and dancer.  Scholarly and daring, she questioned male dominance.  She translated and published an erotic Telugu work.  Following the outrage British banned it. She built a memorial for Saint Poet Tyagaraja. She was denied chance to sing at Annual Aradhana mahotsava there. She started an alternative group with women musicians.Eventually two groups merged.


The production is a stage adaptation of two books: The Devadasi and the Saint, The Life and Times of Bengaluru Nagarathnamma by V Sriram, and a Kannada novel by Maleyuru Guruswamy.



It is about girl born as a DEVADASI, generally singer and dancer in Maharaja's palace, becomes famous and celebrity with her singing talent.

She becomes a staunch disciple of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy and builds a huge complex around the Vrindavana of ThyagarajaSwamy and organizes ThyagarajaSwamy Aradhane on a grand scale.

But the society does not accept her on the high dais of music concert, as she was a devadasi.


She conducts her own concerts with ladies only performers and there was huge response from the public, as she was highly talented singer/dancer.

The presentation of the drama was superb. Singing of all the girls and others were excellent.


About 140 minutes play had not a single dull moment, and the packed hall of RangaShankara  was dumb silent watching the play.

All the songs rendered were excellent. the stage set up, backdrop and lighting all good.


Hats off to T S NagaBharana for presenting a wonderful play with religious and social background.

Posted Sunday, 26th Jan. 2020


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