Parva: A new dimension to the Mahabharata

Prakash Belawadi’s adaptation of SL Bhyrappa’s ‘Parva’ to stage, will be staged in Bengaluru

Dr SL Bhyrappa’s Parva will be staged in English this weekend in Bengaluru. The book is adapted for stage and directed by Prakash Belwadi. It has live music by Ravi Murur and troupe, costumes by Prasad Bidapa and sets by Shashidhar Adapa.

Prakash, who is known nationally and internationally in the world of cinema and television, started his career in theatre. He comes from a family of theatre practitioners. His mother, Bhargavi and father, Make up Nani, were renowned theatre artistes. “I took to theatre at the age of 15 and never left it, despite films and television,” says Prakash.

“I just returned from doing 28 shows of an Australian play and will soon head to the US for a 20-day show. I turned to cinema and web series, to keep doing theatre and sustaining myself. The credit also goes to my wife, Chandrika, for supporting me. I do not want to judge those who left theatre, I am sure they must have had their reasons.”

Parva, Prakash says, was originally performed in Kannada at Mysore Rangayana and it received a standing ovation. The English adaptation will be staged by the Centre for Film and Drama in five acts with four intervals. The Centre of Film and Drama was started in 2004. “We are hoping to travel abroad with this play. We are a small amateur theatre group and wanted to celebrate our 20th anniversary with this work.”

Parva reinterprets the Mahabharata and explores the tangled web of emotions, power struggles, and moral dilemmas. “I first read Parva 10 years ago in English. I immediately called Bhyrappa and sought his permission to adapt it to the stage. He was curious how I would adapt it and was worried whether I would give it a modern interpretation or politicise it. I was simultaneously amused, nervous and clueless and gave up the idea.”

Prakash had directed three plays for Rangayana and Addanda Cariappa, the then director of Rangayana, asked him if he would adapt any of Bhyrappa’s books for the stage. “I instantly thought of Parva, but they chose another of Bhyrappa’s stories to adapt.”

Prakash adapted Parva for stage during the first lockdown. “Bhyrappa approved the adaptation. Bhyrappa, who has watched the play quite a few times, describes Parva as ‘20 % Mahabharata and 80 % his perception’. In March 2021, we announced three shows. It was a 10-and-half hour long show and I am still amazed at how the audience sat through it.”