{{Short description|Theatre institute in Mysore, Karnataka, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}} {{Coord|12.311378280338962|N|76.63773880712374|E|display=title}} {{For|Indian film and stage actor|Rangayana Raghu}} {{Infobox theatre group | name = Rangayana | logo = Rangayana logo.png | logo_size = 100px | logo_caption = Official logo of Rangayana | image = Rangayana, Mysuru (2025) 56a.jpg | image_size = | caption = | formed = 1989 | genre = Theatre and arts | location = Mysuru, Karnataka, India | num_members = | artistic_director = Addanda Karyappa | notable = B. V. Karanth (Founding Director)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Founding Director |url=http://www.rangayana.org/%e0%b2%a8%e0%b2%ae%e0%b3%8d%e0%b2%ae-%e0%b2%ac%e0%b2%97%e0%b3%8d%e0%b2%97%e0%b3%86/%e0%b2%a8%e0%b2%bf%e0%b2%b0%e0%b3%8d%e0%b2%a6%e0%b3%87%e0%b2%b6%e0%b2%95%e0%b2%b0%e0%b3%81/%e0%b2%b8%e0%b2%82%e0%b2%b8%e0%b3%8d%e0%b2%a5%e0%b2%be%e0%b2%aa%e0%b2%95-%e0%b2%a8%e0%b2%bf%e0%b2%b0%e0%b3%8d%e0%b2%a6%e0%b3%86%e0%b3%95%e0%b2%b6%e0%b2%95%e0%b2%b0%e0%b3%81/ |website=Rangayana}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://rangayanamysore.karnataka.gov.in/en}} }} {{OSM Location map |coord = {{coord|12.311378280338962|76.63773880712374}} |zoom=15|width=255|height=200|caption=Map showing Rangayana, Vinoba Road, Kukkarahalli, Kalamandira Campus, Mysuru, Karnataka|label=Rangayana|mark-coord={{coord|12.311378280338962|76.63773880712374}} |label-pos=left|mark-title=Rangayana|mark-description= Rangayana|minimap=yes}} '''Rangayana''' ({{langx|kn|ರಂಗಾಯಣ}}) is a theatre institute which operates from Mysore, Karnataka, India. It works as an autonomous cultural institute. The organization consists of a professional repertory company, a theatre-training institute and a documentation and research centre. Rangayana offers courses in stage craft, preparation and presentation of plays in Kannada. It also conducts programs for promotion of Kannada theatre. Rangayana hosts a theatre festival in Mysore every year.<ref name="festival">{{cite web |url=http://www.mysoresamachar.com/rang_fest.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207094847/http://mysoresamachar.com/rang_fest.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 February 2003|title=Annual Theatre Festival at Rangayana|work=Online Edition of Mysore Samachar|access-date=2007-08-11}}</ref> Rangayana is the only government sponsored repertory theatre in the country.<ref name="sponsor">{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/jul192005/spectrum14872005718.asp|title=Right on the cue|work=Anjali Kaiappa B B and Islahuddin N S. in Deccan Herald |access-date=2007-08-12}}</ref> It is also undertaking a project to introduce theatre to kids and has created a children's repertory in association with the International Theatre Institute and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.<ref name="sponsor"/><ref name="swed">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/13/stories/2004061305490300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040815080058/http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/13/stories/2004061305490300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-08-15|title= Workshop on children's theatre from Monday|access-date=2007-08-14|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2004-06-13}}</ref>
[[File:Kalamandira, Mysore.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Repertorie Rangayana is located behind pictured Kalamandira<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=http://www.rangayana.org/about-us/ |access-date=2021-09-15 |website=Rangayana |language=en-US}}</ref>]]
==History== Rangayana was started by Government of Karnataka in 1989 for promotion of stage crafts and plays.<ref name="start">{{cite web |url=http://www.mysoresamachar.com/dramainst.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803033527/http://www.mysoresamachar.com/dramainst.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 August 2004|title=Drama Institutions in Mysore|work=Online Edition of Mysore Samachar|access-date=2007-08-11}}</ref> The project was the brainchild of B.V. Karanth and he was appointed as the first director of the institute.<ref name="sponsor"/> He continued in that position till 1995 when ''C.Basavalingiah'' took over from him.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MENON |first1=PARVATHI |title=A genius of theatre |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1920/stories/20021011005912100.htm |website=www.hinduonnet.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050329094425/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1920/stories/20021011005912100.htm |archive-date=2005-03-29}}</ref> Prasanna was appointed as the third director of Rangayana in 2001. It was during his time that Rangayana started weekend performances. However Prasanna resigned from the position in 2003 due to conflict of interest between him and the Department of Kannada and Culture.<ref name="resign">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/10/19/stories/2003101901690300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031120163800/http://www.hindu.com/2003/10/19/stories/2003101901690300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-11-20|title= Prasanna resigns as Director of Rangayana|access-date=2007-08-12|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2003-10-19}}</ref><ref name="conflict">{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/03/25/stories/2002032502490300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020426082954/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/03/25/stories/2002032502490300.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 April 2002|title =Resignation final, says Prasanna|work=Staff correspondent on The Hindu|access-date=2007-08-12}}</ref> Prasanna had a clash with the Government of Karnataka too when the government decided to cut back on the annual grants provided to Rangayana in 2003.<ref name="fund">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/10/11/stories/2003101106380400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031111222229/http://www.hindu.com/2003/10/11/stories/2003101106380400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-11-11|title= Govt. move to stop grants to cultural bodies questioned|access-date=2007-08-12|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2003-10-11}}</ref> However, due to strong protests by various cultural bodies the government continued with its grants. ''Chidambara Rao Jambe'' of Ninasam fame was appointed as the fourth director .<ref name="jambe">{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/jan272004/spt3.asp|title= New dreams for Rangayana|work=Padmaraja Dandavati on Deccan Herald|access-date=2007-08-12}}</ref> Addanda C Cariappa is the present director.<ref>{{cite web |title=Director of Rangayana (ರಂಗಾಯಣದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು) |url=http://www.rangayana.org/ನಮ್ಮ-ಬಗ್ಗೆ/ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು/ |website=rangayana.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322214847/http://www.rangayana.org/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AE-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%97%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%97%E0%B3%86/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%A6%E0%B3%87%E0%B2%B6%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%81/ |archive-date=2016-03-22 |language=kn}}</ref>
==Divisions and infrastructure== Rangayana consists of professional repertory company, a theatre training institute called ''Bharatiya Ranga Shikshana Kendra'' and a documentation and research centre called ''Sriranga Ranga Mahiti and Samshodana Kendra''.<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.rangayana.org/profile.htm|title=About Rangayana|work=Website of Rangayana|access-date=2007-08-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011151255/http://www.rangayana.org/profile.htm|archive-date=11 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Repertory company started performing two times a week regularly on weekends at ''Bhoomigeeta'' theatre at Mysore in 2002. Later in 2006, the weekend theatre program was reduced to one day a week citing busy schedule of artists.<ref name="weekend">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/13/stories/2006051300980200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001015930/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/13/stories/2006051300980200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-01|title=Weekend theatre will be one-day affair|access-date=2007-08-12|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2006-05-13}}</ref> In addition, regular tours are conducted throughout Karnataka performing in different towns. It also attends national drama festivals held at different cities of India like New Delhi, Mumbai and Bhopal.<ref name="profile"/>
The theatre training institute was started by Rangayana in 2001-02. It provides vocational training for teachers, social activists and amateur theatre personalities. The institute offers a one-year diploma course in theatre. In addition, the institute has established links with the state government and conducts training in the field of communication skills, personality development, leadership development etc. for the employees.<ref name="profile"/>
The documentation and research institute hosts a library related mainly to theatre. The center hosts seminars and discussions throughout the year at Mysore.<ref name="profile"/> A huge repertoire of untapped folk proverbs, epigrams, ballads, images and metaphors can still be found in the center.<ref name="collection">Bharucha (2001), p74</ref>
Rangayana hosts different stages for performance such as ''Bhoomigitha'', ''Vanaranga'', ''Sriranga'', ''Kutira'' and an art gallery called ''Lankesh art gallery'' bearing the name of popular writer and journalist P. Lankesh.<ref name="profile"/>
==Activities== Rangayana organizes theme based national festivals that receive good response and attracts enthusiasts from all over the country. Theatres groups performing in different Indian languages and a troupe from abroad take part in the festival every year. Festival also hosts handicrafts exhibition, book exhibition, art exhibition, food festival, seminar and interaction with leading theatre personalities.<ref name="festival"/>
In order to reach people all over Karnataka, repertory conducts annual tours to different towns in the state which is called ''Ranga Yatre''.<ref name="tour">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011907700500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063526/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011907700500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-01|title= Who said Rangayana serves only Mysore?|access-date=2007-08-11|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2007-01-19}}</ref>
==Media gallery== {{Gallery |title=Rangayana in 2025 |width=150 | height=150 |mode=nolines |File:Rangayana, Mysuru (2025) 05.jpg |File:Rangayana, Mysuru (2025) 15.jpg |File:Rangayana, Mysuru (2025) 36.jpg |File:Rangayana, Mysuru (2025) 64.jpg }}
=== Arts in Rangayana === <gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="270"> Artists in Rangayana.jpg|Artists in Rangayana Arts in Rangayana.jpg|Craftsmanship in Rangayana </gallery>
==See also== * Karnataka Kalamandira, the oldest art institution in Karnataka * B. V. Karanth
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * Bharucha, Rustom (2000). ''The Politics of Cultural Practice: Thinking Through Theatre in an Age of Globalization.'' Wesleyan University Press. {{ISBN|0-8195-6424-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8195-6424-5}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.rangayana.org Official Website]
Category:Performing arts in Karnataka Category:Organisations based in Mysore Category:Theatrical organisations based in India Category:1989 establishments in Karnataka