Literary and Dramatic Association

Literary and Dramatic Association of Mysore came into being in 1919. It closely followed the Amateur Dramatic Association of Bengaluru in the aims it set before itself and in its working methods. Sri D. Lakshmanayya, a well-known character-actor of Mysore, was the soul of the Association which was later joined by C. R. Subba Rao and C. Anandarao. Anandarao was highly popular in his times for his humorous roles. Thanks to his reputation, the membership of the Literary Dramatic Association grew to eighty. Starting with the available mythological plays, the Association did well in its performances of Ninda Sale (an adaptation by Laksmanayya of "The School for Scandal") Vidyaranya and Lava and Kusha, but could not earn sufficient money to ensure its stability. Difference of opinion also arose among its members, and it came to a close in 1938.

It was revived again in 1941 as the Mysore Ndtaka Sangha, guided by the noted playwright Nanjangud Srikanta Sastri. Plays like Ahalyabai (historical), Rani Devaldevi (historical) and Samaja Sandhye (social) were staged with success. The Association organised dramatic competitions in Mysore in the years 1943 and 1944, inviting all the amateur troupes of Mysore, to stage their best plays. This effort brought together leading amateur troupes of the time like ` Sri Saraswati Sangha,` "Mayura Artists", "Vasanta Institute Amateurs", "Student`s Dramatic Association", "K. R. Mills Amateurs", "Karnatak Sarnaja Seva Sangha" and the "Ittigegud Ameteurs". In spite of the ceaseless efforts of enthusiasts like N. Srikanta Sastri and C. Anandrao, the Association did not get sufficient material encouragement, and soon after the competitions in 1944, it went out of existence.

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