B. R. Nagesh, also known by his pen name Nachiketa, was a novelist and short story writer, as well as an English teacher and lecturer by profession. He worked from Karnataka's two coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. He is most known for notable works pertaining to theater, having written humorous essays and historical accounts on the subject.

Birth and Death

Nagesh was born in Mangalore, on November 10, 1931, and passed away in Mumbai, on March 10, 2007. He was residing in his apartment at Dombivli West Thane District, Mumbai, with his wife, Ramabai, and his younger daughter's family. He died due to an old-age related illness.

Professional career

Nagesh taught in schools and colleges in the towns of Kundapur and Mulki. He then became an English lecturer at Poorna Prajna College in Udupi.

The nature of his theater work

Although Nagesh created his plays in the B. V. Karanth era in Karnataka, he blazed a trail for himself. Unlike the productions of many of his contemporaries, his theatrical productions never bore the stamp of Karanth, nor that of the NSD style of production that Karanth brought with him.

However, Nagesh kept track of what was happening in the field of theater. Like his contemporary Udyavara Madhava Acharya, his ideas were original, and he did not extensively use dance forms as a mode of expression in his stage narratives.

In his earlier years, he directed some of K. Shivarama Karanth's musical plays. In the production of Vibrame (Delusion), a translation of a Badal Sarkar play, he is said to have tried to stimulate the smell of the dead body by burning some raw vegetables.

Subtle humor to comment on a situation was his forte. Additionally, he took great care in the stage setting, properties, costumes, lighting, visual look, color patterns, and stage movements – so much so that the designs that he created through his theatrical tools often told a story by themselves. Though he gravitated towards a somber minimalist approach, he insisted that the settings and costumes be prepared afresh, contributing to the costly nature of his productions. He valued theater discipline and was often said to cancel rehearsals when anyone came late. In the 1990s, his productions became rarities. After retirement, he moved first to Bengaluru, and then to Mumbai, where he passed away.

Awards

Nagesh was the recipient of the Karnataka Theater Academy. A festival of plays in his remembrance was held in 2009 in Udupi.^[1]

Some Plays Directed

• Tippu Sulataan for the organisation 'Rupa Ranga', Kundapur
• Musical plays of Kota Shivaram Karanth in Mulki
• Nee Mayavo, Ninnolu Maayavo [ನೀ ಮಾಯವೋ ನಿನ್ನೊಳು ಮಾಯವೋ] (Are you the 'Maya' or is 'Maya' within you?) by playwright Aadya Rangachaar
• Gummanelliha Thoramma [ಗುಮ್ಮನೆಲ್ಲಿಹ ತೋರಮ್ಮಾ] (Show me the Ghost, Mother) by playwright Aadya Rangachaar^[2]
• Baduka Mannisu Prabhuve [ಬದುಕ ಮನ್ನಿಸು ಪ್ರಭುವೇ] (Oh Lord, help us attain Salvation) for 'Lalita Kala Sadhan', Kasaragodu
• Mundena Saki Mundena (What Next, Girl?)
• Aani Bantaani [ಆನೆ ಬಂತಾನೆ] (There Comes The Elephant)
• Kali Gulla [ಕಲಿ ಗುಳ್ಳ]
• Macbeth (1983) by playwright Shakespeare for Rathabeedi Gelyaru, Udupi^[3]
• Julius Caesar in Chikmagaluru
• Hittina Hunja
• Saarvajanika Rasthe Alla (This is Not a Public Road)
• Rekke (Wings)
• Tadrupi (The Duplicate)
• Vibrame (Delusion)

Books on theater

• Yeddu Bidda Teregalu (Curtains that got raised and closed) - a historical account of theater in the coastal district of Karnataka

Plays

• Yakshi Hidida Moda (The Cloud that was held by Yakshi)

Novels

• Sneha Smruthi (Friendly Memories)
• Bhaavaarchane (An emotional offering)
• Runayaatre (The journey of Obligation)
• Mamata
• Bannada Neralu (The Coloured Shadow)
• Hariva Neerige Kanasugalilla (Flowing Streams Don't Dream)

Collection of short stories

• Pativrute Hengasaadaddu (When the Housewife turned into a Lady)^[4]
• Rajaneeshaniguu Arthavaagada Kajji (The infection that even Rajneesh could not understand)

Legacy

The legacy of Nagesh can be found all over India - whether it be in the works of his various students, or people who have been influenced by him, such as Mumbai-based Kannada theater director Barath Kumar Polipu;^[5] Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam film actress Vinaya Prasad;^[6] Kannada television actors Sujata Kurahatti ^[7] and Ravi Bhat,^[8] filmmaker and graduate from FTII, Ramchandra PN,^[9] Eshwar Chitpady, P. B. Prasanna, Dr. Sudakar Naik of Kasturba Medical Hospital, Manipal, and many others.

References