Director reflects on two-decade journey of Kannada adaptation of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

One of the most loved musicals across the world, Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein, originally a Broadway sensation, delves into the themes of family, faith, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Since Kaikini’s adaptation came out, senior Kannada theatre maker and actor Hulugappa Kattimani has directed Jathegiruvanu Chandira for more than five theatre troupes including prison inmates. Play disrupted Despite showcasing more than a hundred shows by five theatre troupes over the last 20 years, in July 2022, the play made headlines as it was disrupted midway during a showcase in Shivamogga. Members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad forcefully entered the auditorium in Soraba taluk, and interrupted the play being performed, accusing the artists of promoting Islamic traditions, and promoting acts of inter-faith marriage and ‘Love Jihad.’ “Despite the protests that happened two years ago, we have made no changes to the play. The latest production of Jathegiruvanu Chandira has been made with a set of actors all hailing from Bengaluru, including senior theatre maker and actor Mangala N. End of journey Asked on how his journey directing this play for each team has been over the last two decades, Kattimani says that he is satisfied with the output now and wants to put an end to this journey.