In October 2024, Ranga Shankara, Bengaluru’s beloved theatre space, celebrated two decades of bringing the stage to life with a month-long festival. Helmed by Arundhati Nag, the intimate 300-seat auditorium in J P Nagar stands as a tribute to her late husband, Shankar Nag, a celebrated actor, director, and theatre enthusiast. Known for its thrust stage—unique in South India—Ranga Shankara has become a cultural landmark, representing the city’s thriving multilingual theatre scene.

Shankar Nag, who met Arundhati at a rehearsal in Bombay, dreamed of creating a space dedicated to theatre, inspired by the city’s iconic Prithvi Theatre. Tragically, his life was cut short in 1990, leaving the vision unfinished. Arundhati, with support from stalwarts like Girish Karnad, established Sanket Trust and brought Ranga Shankara to life in 2004.

In Episode 6 of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, Arundhati Nag reminisces about her journey—from her early days in Mumbai’s theatre circles to building Ranga Shankara. She reflects on the challenges and joys of nurturing theatre in a time when screens dominate the arts.

“That a space like Ranga Shankara thrives today shows we’re doing something right,” she says.

Listen to her inspiring story on the episode titled Ranganubhava, now streaming on your favourite podcast platforms.

Credits

Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

For more information, visit our website: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/stories-of-karnatakas-cultural-icons