Arts festival brings writers, scholars and performers together in Heggodu
Ninasam’s five-day ‘Conversation with the Arts’ event has brought writers, intellectuals, students and artists to Heggodu in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district. The programme combines discussions on literature and translation with theatre, music and performances, offering participants opportunities to debate creative work and contemporary cultural questions.
Writers, intellectuals, critics, students and artists from Karnataka and beyond have gathered at Ninasam in Heggodu for a five-day arts and literature programme. The annual event, ‘Kalegala Sangada Matukate’, or ‘Conversation with the Arts’, is being held from October 1 to 5 in Sagar taluk, Shivamogga district. It is described as a contemporary version of the culture course Ninasam has organised for several decades.
The programme includes sessions on current trends in literature and translation, along with presentations and performances across different art forms. Each session is followed by an open discussion, allowing participants to engage with the speakers and performers. Philosopher Arindam Chakrabarti, a visiting professor at Ashoka University, inaugurated the event.
The guest list includes political scientist Gopal Guru, scholar Krishnamurthy Hanur, Manu Devadevan of IIT Mandi, writers Vivek Shanbhag and Guruprasad Kaginele, filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli and critic M.S. Ashadevi. The evening schedule began with Ninasam’s production of ‘Andhayuga’, directed by M.
Ganesh. The Tirugata troupe later staged ‘Paduka Kireeti’, directed by Manju Kodagu. A discussion after the performance considered its portrayal of Rama, Kaikeyi and Manthara.
A separate conversation on Kannada literature and culture examined what makes writing “new” and how form, content, the past and migration shape a writer’s work. Shanbhag expressed optimism about younger readers, saying demand for long-form writing had increased despite the popularity of short social-media videos. The remaining programme includes a performance of ‘Sita Banbas’ by Mumbai-based Ank and a Hindustani music concert by Siddhartha Belmannu.
The evening events are being held at the renovated Shivarama Karanth Rangamandira.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.