In Search of Meaning and Essence by Prakash Belawadi



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Girish Karnad lived to ignite thought and anger over the dark future of governance and theater

In his autobiographical work, Aadadta Aayushya (The Years of the Game), Girish Karnad dedicates himself to extraordinary way to doctor who has not had the opportunity to serve his pregnant mother. He begins by talking to his parents' home in Dharwar, in 1973. Then, 35, but already famous writer, filmmaker and actor, appointed director of the Indian Institute of Film and Television, Pune, for the young Girish, life was beautiful. But suddenly, his father turns to his mother and says, "And we thought we wanted to abort this one!"

Girish's mother had turned red and muttered, "Uh … yes … but that Was your idea, not mine! Why go all this now? Curious, the young Girish sounded and learned that her mother had indeed gone to a dispensary in Pune to have an abortion; she had waited nearly an hour for the doctor to take care of her, in vain. She was bored and went home.

The young Girish had been puzzled: "The thought that the Universe would exist, whether I'm depressed or not," he writes. The character Kunal Padubidri in Bengaluru's Girish play, "Boiled Beans on Toast", says something similar at the end of the game, but adds: "But then, if I did not exist no, would that matter? "

This is the case. It would be seriously forget to say that Girish Karnad had talent. He won a Rhodes Scholarship in mathematics. He has gained fame and awards in literature, theater and film. He has been appointed by the government in many academies and institutions.

But Girish always seemed to have a hard time understanding everything. His character, Puru, who exchanges his youth with his ambitious father Yayati and with tragic consequences, shouts at the end of the play: "What does it mean, God, what is it? that this means?" It was the young Girish, who was wondering. in pbadionate agony.

Girish wrote 'Yayati' before going to Oxford, well before being influenced by the existentialists. Even the rational and material world he imagined was rooted in "Lokayata: A Study of Ancient Indian Materialism" by the philosopher Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya. In his autobiography, he writes: "Before I went to England, I read the condensed versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata of Rajaji so that I could grasp our Itihaasa-Puranas. Even in the condensed 300-page book, Rajaji manages to capture the intrigues and stories …

The idea that the son was older than the father seemed dramatic to me. It was 1960. He was only 22 years old. What did all this mean for the young Girish? His motives for inspiration are largely the great Indian epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata, folk tales and the story of Indian rulers. But Girish argues with traditional interpretations of stories. In his message on World Theater Day 2002, a tribute paid by the International Theater Institute to the greatest directors, Girish quotes Natyashastra, but disagrees with the traditional understanding of the events surrounding the performance of Opening: The myth, it seems to me, refers to an essential characteristic of the theater that Brahma's locational remarks can not recognize, namely that any representation, even if carefully conceived, carries a risk of failure. , disturbance and therefore violence.

The minimum required for a live performance is that of a human being (that is, to pretend to be someone else) and a another who looks at it, and it's a situation already fraught with uncertainty … The myth of the first The performance points out that in the theater, the playwright, the performers and the public form a continuum, always unstable and therefore potentially explosive … that's why the theater signs its own death sentence when it tries to play safely. . On the other hand, it is also the reason why, even though its future often looks bleak, the theater will continue to live and to provoke. "

In pictures: here is a glimpse of the remarkable achievements of kannada writer Girish Karnad

of the death of Girish Karnad

The famous writer and kannada actor Girish Karnad died Monday after a long illness. The famous writer was 81 years old. He breathed his last in his Lavelle Road House in Bengaluru. Photo: S Eshwar / MMCL

A look at the life of Girish Karnad

Karnad is survived by his wife, son and daughter. With his dramatic writing that went beyond his time, Karnad quickly became famous, working in both South Indian cinema and Bollywood.

Education

Girish Karnad was born in Matheran and attended Karnatak Arts College in Dharwad. He later became a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics. At Oxford, the writer wrote his first piece titled "Yayati" in 1961.

First Sleeves

Three years later, Girish Karnad wrote his most successful piece to date, " Tughlaq. " Soon, he debuted as an actor and screenwriter with the film Kannada Samskara, released in 1970. A year later, he made his directorial debut with "Vamsha Vriksha".

No Language Barriers

Karnad's plays, written in Kannada, were also translated into English as well as into several other Indian languages. He was also director of FTII from 1974 to 1975.

Recipient of several awards

With a critically acclaimed portfolio of works, Girish Karnad has become the recipient of numerous awards, including Padma Shri (1974), Padma Bhushan (1992) and the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary distinction of India. He also played a role in the TV series "Malgudi Days".

Wings of Fire

In 1999, Karnad became a member of the autobiography of former APJ president Abdul Kalam, "Wings of Fire", lending his voice to audio version. He then received critical acclaim for the 2005 film "Iqbal". He also played a key role in the movie "Ek Tha Tiger" of Bollywood

Farewell

The cremation will take place at the crematorium of Kalpalli. Karnad's family members added that, according to the wishes of the writer, there would be no ultimate rituals. According to a report to ANI, a three-day state mourning declared by CM HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka. The CM also declared a holiday. Photo: S Eshwar / MMCL

The plays of Girish Karnad, during these 60 years, certainly caused a lot of anger. But it would be irrational to deny that he won more praise and international acclaim than reprimanding his dramatic writing and, later, as an actor and director in film and television . But where Girish has found, and often, a "potentially explosive" and difficult situation, lies in the realm of real politics. During the years of domination of the Indian National Congress, which often adopted the rhetoric and slogans of the left-wing protest itself, Girish and many of his contemporaries, such as the late UR Ananthamurthy, were admired and rewarded by the institution. intellectual and influential figures of the government. for positions they have taken in conflicts rooted in questions of identity related to religion, caste or language – news in Urdu on DD, Kaveri conflict, proposals to ban beef, etc. The continued rise of the BJP and Hindutva over the past 30 years has troubled him and Girish is openly and politically alongside Congress and his allies.

As an admirer and friend who had the chance to know him and work with him, disagreeing with his positions on identity politics, I can only say that he was the greatest living playwright from India. That he was generous from a fault – with monetary compensation for work, homework, full praise for work done with other directors and projects. He had the sensitivity to identify himself as a Kannada writer, who first wrote in Kannada and allowed translations later, even though he had more admirers to offer. greater awards in Marathi, Hindi or English, skills for which he was competent.

He was the essential Indian who knew Bharat, but was arguing with him. That he was much more complex and nuanced in the political and human conflicts that he saw in his creative work than in seminars and street protests. I will miss him. It is now a poorer India without him.

The writer is an Indian theater, film, television and media personality, activist and journalist from Bangalore. He co-founded the Center for Film and Dramatic Arts and launched the Suchitra School of Cinema and Dramatic Arts.


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