Plays on Tipu Sultan were a big draw across North Karnataka, recall patrons

HUBBALLI: Against the backdrop of a debate over the legacy of Tipu Sultan, with even his role in the struggle for India’s Independence being thrown into question, patrons of the theatre in North Karnataka are growing nostalgic about the time when they were treated to dramas on the life of not only the former ruler of Mysuru, but other freedom fighters such as Sindhur Laxman, Sangolli Rayanna, Kittur Channamma, et al.
Rahamath Tarikere, a keen patron of drama and a scholar on culture, said the discourse was not as polarised in the past as it was today.
“The drama troupes, and artistes, never tried to foist their ideology on the audience. These artistes used plays as vehicles to raise awareness among about the battle India had waged to win freedom from her colonisers. Plays on Tipu Sultan were a big draw. Although he was martyred in 1799, in North Karnataka, he continued to live on the stage, with dramas on his life and times being staged even in the 19th century,” he said.
“Since staging plays on Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali in Old Mysore was fraught with peril, given that he was seen as a foe of both the British and the Wadiyars, troupes brought their plays here. In the 20th century, when the struggle for Independence reached a feverish pitch, plays on those who opposed the imperial rulers were hugely popular, and professional theatre troupes staged many such dramas. Even after 1947, Tipu and other freedom fighters retained their iconic position as stars on stage and screen,” Rahamath said.
Hulimane Seetharama Shastry, who ran the Jayakarnataka Nataka Sangha, authored and played the titular character in the play, ‘Tipu Sultan’, Rahamath recalled. “The colonisers restricted performance of this play, but after India attained freedom, it was performed to huge audiences. Noted film actor Dhirendra Gopal donned the role of Tipu Sultan for the Gajanan Nataka Mandali,” he added.
Theatre scholar Ramakrishna Marathe recalled that, among those who had watched Shastry’s play was Girish Karnad. “Back in those days, drama companies often took to performing plays that had proven successful for their peers,” Marathe said.
Prakash Garud, a senior theatre artiste, remembers watching his father, Garud Sripadaraya portraying Mir Sadiq in a production of ‘Tipu Sultan’ by Gajanan Nataka Mandali.
“This play was authored by the company owner Darrambhat Odeyar, who also played the lead. I watched the play in 1967-68. Among others, doyens of theatre such as RD Kamath were involved in the production. The play helped actors such as HT Urs, Hirekumbi climb higher on the rungs of the popularity ladder.
Once India became free, the drama, which was earlier a predominantly patriotic text, acted as a vehicle to spread the message of communal harmony. What is more, Brahmins constituted the bulk of the cast and crew in plays on Tipu Sultan, and people were more broad-minded. Such a scenario cannot be imagined today when there is such turmoil in our milieu,” he said.
Chindodi Vijaykumar, a leading actor with the KBR Drama Company, said that plays on Tipu Sultan were huge hits during the years of his grandfather. Dramas on the Mysuru king helped revive the fortunes of many a troupe, he added.