Benaka (acronym for Bengaluru Nagara Kalavidaru), a theatre repertory founded in 1974 by thespian B.V. Karanth, will organise a month-long celebration in Dharwad and Bengaluru this September to mark his 98th birth anniversary. ‘Karantha Maasa’ will bring together theatre performances, workshops, music, and other cultural programmes that reflect his rich artistic legacy and belief in taking theatre to wider audiences.
The theatre festival will be held from September 5 to 22.
Tekion, a US-based automotive retail tech company, announced a partnership with Benaka to support Karantha Maasa, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The celebrations to mark the forthcoming Karantha masa began in Bengaluru on August 30 in the presence of theatre veterans, artistes, and members of the Benaka troupe with a procession featuring some of the popular art and music forms of Karnataka and key characters from Karanth’s plays.
As part of B. V. Karanth’s 98th birth anniversary celebrations, Karantha Maasa brings together theatre performances, workshops, music, and other cultural programmes that reflect his rich artistic legacy and his belief in taking theatre to wider audiences.
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth, fondly remembered as B.V. Karanth, was a visionary director, composer, and pioneer of modern Indian theatre. He served as Director of the National School of Drama (NSD) and revolutionised stagecraft by seamlessly weaving indigenous music, folk forms, and expressive dramaturgy into landmark productions.
Benaka’s President T.S. Nagabharana, who is a nine- time National Award-winning filmmaker, and acclaimed theatre director, said,“Theatre is the soul of our cultural identity. Nurturing performing arts through CSR is vital to keeping our living traditions vibrant for future generations. We are thrilled to welcome Tekion as the first-ever tech company to partner with Benaka. Tekion’s commitment to backing grassroots cultural institutions sets a benchmark for how modern enterprises can meaningfully preserve artistic legacies like that of B.V. Karanth.”
Aravind Gowda, Senior Director of Communications at Tekion, stated: “Through our Tekion for Good CSR programme, we are deeply committed to strengthening local communities and preserving our rich cultural roots. Theatre and the performative arts form the very heartbeat of vibrant societies. Supporting Benaka and celebrating the timeless legacy of a legend like B.V. Karanth allows us to nurture Karnataka’s artistic ecosystem, spark creative expression, and create meaningful cultural engagement for our people and the community.”
After the Karantha Maasa celebrations, Benaka will partner with Tekion for staging dedicated plays on social impact, paired with interactive employee engagement workshops.
Theatre festival schedule
September 5-6: Benaka will travel to Dharwad for a theatrical tour, taking its repertoire beyond Bengaluru, and bringing the experience to north Karnataka.
September 16: Theatre festival inauguration at Kalagrama, Bengaluru, followed by the staging of Baba Karantha, a biographical play portraying the life and contributions of the legendary theatre personality B.V. Karanth, at 7 PM at Kalagrama. The evening marks the formal beginning of the Karantha Maasa celebrations in Bengaluru.
September 17: Staging of Kindari Jogi — a special children’s show at 11.30 AM, followed by an evening show for the general audience at 7 PM at Kalagrama.
September 18: A theatre workshop at Ravindra Kalakshetra, conducted by nationally acclaimed theatre practitioners. The workshop will explore contemporary practices and challenges in theatre, including the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in theatre. The day will conclude with the staging of Hayavadana at 7 PM at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
September 19: A full-day cultural showcase celebrating the richness of theatre and Rangageete (theatre music). The programme will feature a Rangageete competition, followed by prize distribution, and a special Rangageete musical programme. The day will conclude with the staging of the iconic play Jokumaraswamy at 7:00 PM at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
September 21: A full-day theatre workshop at Ravindra Kalakshetra, conducted by nationally acclaimed theatre practitioners. The day will conclude with the Sattavara Neralu play at 7 PM at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
September 22: The final day of the three-day theatre workshop, bringing together theatre practitioners and participants for discussions and explorations around theatre, technology, creativity, and the challenges of the contemporary stage. The celebrations will conclude with the staging of Gokula Nirgamana at 7:00 PM at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
Published – August 31, 2026 12:03 am IST
