Abhishek Iyengar’s Kannada play ‘Kone Galige’ set to premiere at Ranga Shankara

Starring Alaknanda Srinivas, Keerthi Bhanu and Vyjayanti Adiga, the Kananda play ‘Kone Galige’ will premiere at the Ranga Shankara on December 13, 2024

Kone Galige, a Kannada play on a convict’s last few hours before going to the gallows, is set to premiere at the Ranga Shankara in Bengaluru on December 13, 2024. Written and directed by Abhishek Iyengar, the play is presented by WeMove Theatre and Sanskriti Centre for Peforming Arts.

Kone Galige stars seasoned theatre actors Alaknanda Srinivas, Keerthi Bhanu and Vyjayanti Adiga in lead roles. The play revolves around the last few minutes of Hariprasad, who is awaiting his death sentence in an isolated prison. Hariprasad has an unexpected visitor, who draws him into reluctant conversations, exploring his world.

“The idea for the play struck me when Alaknanda Srinivas casually asked me about how a convict going to gallows will spend the last hour! That thought intrigued me,” says Abhishek. “I had done a research about convicts and prison for a different project which hadn’t worked then and then this thought rekindled that research which lead to the play,” he adds.

In his final hours, Hariprasad confronts his past, finds a sense of nothingness, and maybe even a glimmer of peace, but how does this matter in his last moments? The play explores this tricky aspect. Kone Galige is a story about the power of human connection, even in the darkest of places, says Abhishek.

Delving further into the play, Abhishek says, “The way I have structured this play is different from my previous projects. This is the first play where it happens at a timeline which is not present.” Costumes play a major in the play, he notes.

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Lavanya Bhat is the assistant director while Guru has done the set design for the play. The experienced Manju Narayan will handle lights while Vignesh will head the production. Lavanya Bhat and Bellichukki Veerendra have headlined the costume department.