ಅಂತರ ಗಂಗೆ – Antara Gange
Bhargavi Narayan, Indira Lankesh, Dr. Vijaya with MS Asha Devi
Bhargavi Narayan
Bio
I have been active in theatre since 1950. My children – Sujata Raut, Prakash Belawadi, Sudha Belawadi and Pradeep Belawadi – are also involved in theatre activities. Prakash and Sudha act in films as well. My husband – the late Makeup Nani – was a well known actor, director and makeup artist.
Awards:
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the film “ Professor Huchhooraya ” in 1974.
- Second best play for “ Boothanna Pechata ” which was written, directed and produced by me at the state level children drama competition in 1974.
- Written and directed plays for AIR (All India Radio) women’s programme.
- Wrote plays for Women’s Association for Children.
- Worked as a member of Natak Academy.
- Wrote an autobiography “Naanu Bhargavi” which got awards from the State Sahitya Academy,from Shivamogga Karnataka Sangha and the ‘Gangamma Bommai Pratishtana,Dharwad’
- Received an award from the State Nataka Academy for my services in theatre.
- I continue to direct and produce plays through ‘Green Room Club’ (a troupe started by my late husband Makeup Nani)
Indira Lankesh
Bio
Indira Lankesh was born on 2nd of June 1943 in Shivamogga. She married at a young age, when she seventeen years old to P.Lankesh. She discontinued studies half way through her first year pre university. When Lankesh quit his job as an English lecturer from the Bangalore university Indira started a small sari shop in the house to make ends meet. Her business acumen was so good that within a span of couple years she managed to open a big sari shop in the bustling Gandhi Bazaar.
Always an independent woman, she raised her children to be self sufficient and independent too.
Having spent 40 years of married life with P.Lankesh she wrote a novel titled ‘Sour Mango and I’.
Her debut novel won the B.Saroja Devi award in 2016.
Now she is retired and does yoga, reads, walks and travels as often as possible.
Dr. Vijaya
Bio
Dr. Vijaya (Vijayamma) is a legend in her own right. She was the first woman journalist in Kannada who acquired star status. She was referred to as the ‘Devi of Kannada. She changed the very style of writing about cinema. She is witness to and an integral part of the cultural history of the city. Suchitra Film Society was her brain child. She brought the International Film Festival to Bangalore. She established a printing press, Ila Printers, way back in the 1970s through she which published women writers. She brought out a unique magazine on arts titled Sankula. She was also instrumental in launching Namma Manasa, an intellectual magazine for women. She was the first woman to write and direct street plays in Kannada. She wrote her doctoral thesis on Sriranga, the playwright. Her penchant for picking up budding talents and nurturing them has resulted in scores of writers, journalists, actors and singers.
MS Asha Devi
Bio
MS Asha Devi is a well-known writer, translator, literary critic and feminist thinker. Her thesis “The Influence of Western Criticism on Navodaya Criticism” is well regarded. She currently teaches Kannada at Maharani Women’s Science College.