Nirakarane, a solo performance by Shruthi Adarsha, based on a short story written by Veena Shantheshwara, received an impressive response from the theatre-lovers at Rangayana Shivamogga on Sunday (Sept. 3). Hongirana, the theatre troupe that has been active since 1996, presented the play.
Shruthi Adarsha, a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, played multiple roles besides being the narrator of the story of Shakunthala. With her postures and expressions, she kept the audience captivated for over an hour. She shifted from one character (the narrator) to another (Shakuntala – Dushyantha – Vishwamitra - Indra – Kanva – Bharata, and other characters) with ease.
The play is a soliloquy by Shakuntala, who narrates her story, of course, with critical comments on characters that play a major role in her life. She is critical of Vishwamithra, Indra and other characters besides Dushyantha. Her mother, Menake, became a pawn in the hands of ‘big people’, she argues.
