Mangalore: The purpose of theatre is to illustrate and demonstrate the ‘essence of life’ and in that sense, it goes beyond mere imitation of life, said Bengaluru-based senior theatre director S Raghunandana here on Saturday.
Delivering a special lecture on ‘Not Fake, Not Real: Truth about stage acting and theatre’, under the auspices of Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences,(GCPAS), MAHE, Raghunandana said, acting is certainly not ‘fake’ and it also goes beyond simplistic understanding of reality. It tries to enact the ‘essence of life’ rather than life itself which we call as ‘Rasa’ in aesthetics.
Experience of life becomes ‘Rasa’ on stage with the touch of aesthetics. Great art cannot be born without empathy for those who suffer in life. Theatre, in that sense, goes beyond ‘imitation of life’ and becomes an interpretation of life. Theatre, or any art for that matter, is an act of evoking such ‘Rasa’ among the viewers such as Karuna, Adbhuta, Shringaraetc, he added.
It could be true that one may not be able to make somebody’s experience as one’s own completely. But art is not fake, but artistic reality. Theatre also makes use of different aesthetic devices to tell ‘truth of life’ Mr Raghunandana said. Welcoming, the GCPAS Head Prof Varadesh Hiregange said – ecosophy, aesthetics, peace studies and art media –are the ‘essence’ of the courses at GCPAS. Proposing a vote of thanks, Prof Phaniraj said artistes have responded to contemporary crises when others maintained silence. Mr Raghunandana also held a two-day special session on theatre for GCPAS students earlier.