Mysuru: The Bahuroopi Film Festival kicked off today, one of the first sections of the National Theatre Festival to mark the beginning of the week long Shakespeare extravaganza.

The film festival, being held at Sri Ranga was inaugurated by Rajendra Singh Babu, Chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra  Parishad who spoke of plans to organise an international film festival in Mysuru. “There are several critics who say that international film festivals are being organised only in cities like Bengaluru. We have plans for a Film  Festival in Mysuru.” “Mysurians have good taste and such international film festivals will be appreciated in this cultural city.”

Babu also spoke of the universality of Shakespeare, “Movies are time bound, they are remembered only for a short span of time, but Shakespeare is remembered even after 400 years.”

“People keep saying there is lack of stories in Kannada films, for that we need to think differently. And there are so many stories of Shakespeare that can be adapted to good films” he added.

The programme began with Chintan Vikas and his troupe singing Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Rangayana Director Janardhan and Prashant Hiremath were also present at the event.

Street Play Festival Inauguration

The Street Play festival was inaugurated at Maharani College this morning by District In charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad and MLA Vasu. A play directed by KL Sumathi was staged after the inauguration.

Shakespeare Exhibition

Prof. BN Balaji’s collection of Shakespearean artifacts is being displayed for the course of the Drama Festival in Suchitra Art Gallery. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. KY Narayanaswamy, a playwright and member of Ranga Samaja.