Bembidada BhoothaSaturday, Sept 30 @ 7.30pm &
Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 @ 4.30 & 7.30pm in H N Kalakshetra
About The Producers - Silver Blue Productions
Silver Blue Productions have agreed to Produce this production and we are glad to have them supporting our event. Specials thanks to Asif and Diah for standing by and supporting us through out this production.
About The Director
This is Sathish's fourth production under Fourth Corner banner. He has been working with different theatre groups from India at different times. After his hibernation or disappearance for three years, the Ranga Shankara festival 2004, put him back in line with active theatre. He still is known for his theatre columns for newspapers and with special reference to Sunday reviews at Times of India. He still continues to write for newspapers on theater and related issues.
Directors Note
This play has been intriguing from the day I heard about this author. Getting inspired is easy but Indianising it comfortably is an art. I went around whole of Karnataka looking for this script, thanks to my good friend Poorna Chandra Tejaswi and family specially his mother that I found the script. We have planted only changes to make it look and sound more contemporary
The Wine, Woman and Money three main lusts of MANkind are in showcase in this play. The art of seduction and suffocation are the main thrills of this play. Have tried to amplify and apply it to today with colors and honors.
Yes, we have changed it back to the same story line as the original Hollywood thriller from which G V Shivanand got inspired. The movie I was told was Ricochet (1963) Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey. Movie script was written by Roger Marshall who got inspired by the novel "The Angel of Terror" by Edgar Wallace. I tried to get information on the movie but in vain. If any of you find it please give it to me. So finally we are staging something which has challenged me from years. Hope I have done good justice. All inputs are welcome on prakasamtrust@gmail.com
Group Photo
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Standing L to R: Nayaz, Jaideva, Diah, Nanjunda, Sreenivas, Asif,
Sathish, Manjula, Chandan, Arun, Srinidhi, Ashwin and Santosh
Sitting L to R: Narender, Poornima, Ambarish, Daya, Rajesh, Arjun and Naveen
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Cast
1. Jaideva M - Rama Rao (Uncle of Chanchala)
2. S.Nanjunda Murthy Rao - Chandra Shekar (Brother of Chanchala Also CID Officer Sudarshan)
3. Manjula Nanjappa - Chanchala (Anchor of the play, Modern day girl)
4. Ambarish G Purohit - Dr.'s Assistant Narasimha (Works with Dr. Subba Rao)
5. Poornima Natraj - Chennamma (Maid Also Constable Rajamma)
6. Srinidhi R D - Dr. Subba Rao (Family physician)
7. Ashwin - Chandra Mohan (Chanchala's boyfriend)
8. Chandan S - Inspector Somasundar (Case officer)
9. Dayaprasad G Kulkarni - Timmappa (Gardner Also Venkatarao)
Directors Note on Cast
S.Nanjunda Murthy Rao - Chandra Shekar (Brother of Chanchala Also CID Officer Sudarshan)
Nanjunda is known in almost all house holds as Mukta Nanjunda, people had trouble digesting the fact that it was his real name. He came into our production by sheer luck and hats off to his interest and dedication. He came in with his busy schedule for most of the rehearsals.
Jaideva M - Rama Rao (Uncle of Chanchala)
A good friend and a famous TV personality has unlimited interest in theatre. His efforts into experimenting the way theatre works is commendable. He was supposed to play Chandra Mohan but thanks to my luck he plays this character. Lucky to find him to act in this role.
Manjula Nanjappa - Chanchala (Anchor of the play, Modern day girl)
She too came in as a surprise, referred by a good friend I had no hopes of her being in this play when I spoke to her on the phone. But she suited the role as if it was written for her and picked up quite incredibly to surprise me.
Ambarish G Purohit - Dr.'s Assistant Narasimha (Works with Dr. Subba Rao)
He came in with the intention of being a part of our back stage crew. I was surprised at his honesty and direct face approach. His style of Hubli Kannada matched the character and he did freak-out on his lines since he had full freedom.
Poornima Natraj - Chennamma (Maid Also Constable Rajamma)
She has been with Fourth Corner production from RangaAayama time. She did help me a lot with planning and stayed with me till the end. She had to act in a play of mine and she suited this role and thanks to her good sense of timing which the character needed.
Srinidhi R D - Dr. Subba Rao (Family physician)
He was the only guy I liked in the entire audition gang, something what could be called as love at first sight. He suited this character and acts quite similar in real life, hence did good justice to the character.
Ashwin - Chandra Mohan (Chanchala's boyfriend)
Ashwin was supposed to act in Ammavra Ganda but he refused since he was not too comfortable on stage. But this time he ran out of excuses and he is the official charmer in the play. He suited the role and also had the looks for it demanded.
Dayaprasad G Kulkarni - Timmappa (Gardner Also Venkatarao)
I knew Daya from many meetings at happening theatre places in Bangalore. Also was witness his productions and did like his involvement and willingness to learn. Doctor by profession he was humble enough to decline the Dr. title in our title cards.
Chandan S - Inspector Somasundar (Case officer)
He has been persistent enough to wait for many productions before getting on stage (the way I got on stage) and I gave him this very strict and stern role which suited him very well. He juggled between production work and multitasking master I should say.
Crew
Lights & Light Effects - Arun Murthy
Music - Rajesh Prasath
Makeup - Ummi (Umamaheshwara)
Chandan - Production Chief
Naveen & Sreenivas - Production Associates
Ashwin - Ticketing & Production
Directors Note on Crew
Lights - Arun Murthy
Hardworking youngster, trained from Ninasam and working actively with Natana he probably is most dedicated to his line of work - lighting. He has the frill and fancy of a dreamer and suited the verve needed to light this play.
Music - Rajesh Prasath
Rajesh is the cute little thing working as sound engineer in Radio One. Not many people know about his DJing skills but I was probably the first to cash in on it. His ear to fine music and quick understanding of what's needed without a script was most impressive, hats off dude.
Chandan - Production Chief
He has been my production right hand, hardworking and dedicated has taken care of my other productions. This one was not any different from the others. More productions to go Chandan, keep hard working ;) !!!
Ashwin - Ticketing & Production
He has been doing the dogs work for Fourth Corner from quite some time. His help was cherished during RangaAayama days, he single handedly managed tickets, money and the troops which participated in the festival. An invaluable asset I should add.
Makeup - Ummi (Umamaheshwara)
This man has the works, have worked with him before for our productions as well as got made up by him. He has this cool mind and never say die attitude. Not nosy like other makeup artists makes him my best choice for any production.
Naveen - Production Associate
I know Naveen from his chaddi days, he's this whacko yet macho boy on a bullet. Silent Killer as he's fondly known in his friend circle completes most of the work without a burp. He I hope helped Chandan in production because he never told me so ;)
Sreenivas - Production Associate
He too is a boy whom I have seen grow and have heard about his adventures. He looks thin and puny but has enough stamina to move and clear stage in good time. He is limited with words but can express himself well if need be.
About The Play
The name Bembidada Bhootha translates as "Haunting Ghost". But this time the haunting is not leading to a horrific end but acts as a catalyst to solve a murder. This would fall under the genre of Murder Mysteries but with a twist of horror attached to it. The right clarifications about the play come clear with the climax.
This play revolves around the sins that humans do for their personal gains. Love is good but Lust drives the heroine Chanchala to do things which turn the tables and puts her in the guilt chair. The neatly woven intricacy of the story unfolds tightening grip over Chanchala and her guilt trip. The crime committed envelopes the characters giving twist and turn at every scene of the play. The last scene revels the true murderer.
In-fact in the original script published in 1964 G V Shivanand lays out an standing instruction "Audience should be advised not to leave till the curtains else the story would not be understood, and most importantly the interesting climax would be missed".
About The Author
G V Shivanand was the third son of late Gubbi Veeranna, the doyen of Kannada professional theatre. He suffered an attack while acting in a Kannada teleserial in Bangalore. He had acted in films like Sankaracharya, and Madhwacharya and teleserials like Malgudi Days and Manvantara. A recipient of Karnataka Nataka Academy Award, he had formed a drama troupe, Kala Kunja, and presented a number of stage performances. His contribution to area of acting was well recognised as setting new standards in contrast to that of old-timers like Kailasam, Hirannaiah, Parvathavani and Sampath.
Acknowledgements
Balraj K N a good friend and a fine cartoonist for the amazing illustration he created from the brief note written above.
Poorna's Mother & their entire family for finding us the script.
P R Sadasiva for giving us his beautiful house for rehearsals.
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