Pukkate Salahe

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Play: Pukkate Salahe

Language: Kannada

Genre: Comedy

Troupe: Vikasam

Director: Ashok B

Artists: Ashok B, Gururaj Reddy, Prabhakar, Mala Sujith, Jairam, Phalguni, Kiran Devraj and others.

Everyone's life had come to a standstill due to the obvious. So was our theatre hopping. When above drama was to be played we were all game.

Pukkate Salahe (Free advice) is a play written by Dundiraj, a famous Kannada writer who is specialized mostly in short humorous poems (hanigavana).

A popular TV show where the guest is a self-appointed astrologer who doles out suggestions to various callers from different walks of life with numerous problems.

The drama is a satirical take on our society. The humour is just right. It managed to touch sensitive issues without offending anybody. And one get to hear various dialects of Karnataka. You wouldn't even realize how one-and-a-half hours was spent.

We had watched Vikasam's 'G.K. Mastarara Pranaya Prasanga' last year. We couldn't help but wonder if Ashok B (director/astrologer) had played Rama's role in Poulasthyana Pranaya Kathe.

What we watched (Pukkate Salahe), is their 48th show and make time for it if you enjoy theatre. 

The Turn of The Key

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Book:  The Turn of The Key

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Language: Language

“Because it was the lies that got me here in the first place. And I have to believe that it’s the truth that will get me out.”

When I was taking stock of the year's read Ruth Ware tops the list. This was the second book of the year.

Rowan Caine accepts the live-in nanny post with a hefty paycheck and accommodation in fancy smart home in Scottish Highlands.

Circa present she was awaits trial for the murder of a child. She writes to a lawyer narrating the incidents that lead her to her imprisonment.

Though ending felt rushed definitely an over the edge thriller.

Mukhyamatri

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Drama: Mukhyamatri 

Artists: Mukhyamatri Chandru, Manjunath Hegde, Srinivas Meshtru

Director: B.V.Rajaram

Language: Kannada

Troupe: Kalagangotri

If one is Kannadiga he/she is bound to know Mukhyamantri Chandru. Having heard about this drama for so long we're able to see it this year. This is their 41st year running the show. We couldn't recall the exact number of the show, but kind of sure that it is more than 750.

This was originally a novel of same name by Chanakya Sen. From Hindi it was translated from another Kannada thespian T.S.Lohitashwa. During which he didn't change the last names of characters, hence we could hear Dubey, Tripati, etc.

Chief minister of Udayachal, Krishna Dwaipayana (Chandru) is concerned about losing his position as his rivals are rallying up against him. He must act cautiously to retain his chair and is determined to go to any length.

Chandru though little weak and old, on stage he has the same charisma way better than the silver screen. The leader of opposition was played by Manjunath Hegde. We know him from Kannada serials like Guptagamini and Moodala Mane.

Stage is awash with whites of divans and bolsters, party uniforms and caps. A hilarious drama that cackled us throughout the act.

Must watch for theater enthusiasts. 

The Night Tiger

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Book: The Night Tiger

Author: Yangtze Choo

Genre: Historical Fiction

Language: English

“In Cantonese, two was a good number because it made a pair. Three was also good because it was a homophone for sang, or life. Four, of course, was bad because it sounded like death. Five was good again because it made a complete set, not just of the Confucian Virtues, but also for the elements of wood, fire, water, metal, and earth.”

In my quest to pick a book set in different parts of the world, The Night Tiger had piqued my attention as people were raving about it on social media.  

A 11-year-old Ren has 49 days to find his master's severed finger to reunite with his body. Otherwise his soul will roam in earth without peace.

Ji Linn's childhood dream was to study medicine, but being apprentice dressmaker was considered more suitable for girls in 1930 of Malaysia and of course getting married. She secretly works as a dance girl at night to help pay off her mother's mahjong debts. One night mischievously she happens to be in possession of the ghastly severed finger.

Soon many mysterious deaths follows and hushed rumor of man turning into tiger at night is behind these murders spreads like wildfire.

Beautifully woven story around Malaysian culture, their colonized past with a twist of Chinese numerology and folklore.