Malegalalli Madumagalu, The 9-hour Play to Take a Seat in History with 100th Show
The fifth edition of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s Malegalalli Madumagalu, a dusk to dawn play, is claiming a seat in the history of Indian theatre with its 100th show this Saturday, February 15, 2020, at Kalagrama, behind Bangalore University Jnanabharati campus. The nine-hour epic theatre production, from 8 pm to 6 am, is drawing huge crowds in Bengaluru witnessing a house full on several occasions.
Malegalalli Madumagalu, which is translated to ‘Bride in the Hills’, is based on Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s Kannada novel on the same name and reflects on the socio-economic conditions that prevailed in the 19th century. The beauty, romance and tragedy of the play is brought alive in four gigantic open-air stages at the Kalagrama throughout the night, with 36 songs and 80 performers from all South Indian states including the students of the National School of Drama, Bangalore Centre.
The first series of this play was unveiled in the year 2010 at Rangayana, Mysuru with the able efforts of the then Director (I/c) and Eminent Writer Sh. Ka. Tha. Chikkanna and others with the professional artists from Rangayana and amateurs from across Karnataka. Since 2010, it has travelled to Kalagrama, Bangalore. Audience from various parts of the state from layman to people of eminence has viewed this play with enormous passion and spread the word to others to develop similar excitement. So far it is estimated that Malegalalli Madumagalu has reached over 70,000 audiences across the state and other parts of South India too which is the record to be documented in the annals modern theatre history of India.
Novel adaptation by Dr. K.Y. Narayanaswamy, Concept and Directed by C. Basavalingaiah, the Magnus opus play is presented by National School of Drama, Bangalore Centre, in collaboration with Department of Kannada and Culture, Govt. of Karnataka. Malegalalli Madhumagalu has seen grand reception by the audience and has become the talk of the town on social media platforms.
Behind the Scenes
National School of Drama Bengaluru Centre in collaboration with Dept. of Kannada & Culture, Govt of Karnataka presents Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s Malegalalli Madumagalu, a 9-hour-long play all through the night.
- Adaptation and Lyrics: Dr. K Y Narayanaswamy
- Set Design: Shashidhar Adapa
- Light Design: Nandakishore K R
- Sound and Light System: Umesh
- Costume & Properties Design: Pramod Shiggav
- Makeup: Ramakrishna Belthur
- Documentation: Praveen Malnad and Thai Lokesh
- Publicity Design: Vinyasa Muniraju
- Music Execution: Gajanana T Naik
- Music Direction: Hamsalekha
- Concept & Direction: C.Basavalingaiah
Office Administration NSD, BC
- K M Chandrashekar, Programme Coordinator
- Kusuma K C, Senior Clerk
- Arpita Benakanahalli, Junior Clerk
- Siddappa Doddamani, MTS