By Alok S, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: The valedictory programme of the four day 'Jailninda - Jailige Rangayatre' was held at the City Town Hall here on July 5.

The inmates of central jails of Mysore, Bangalore, Belgaum and Dharwad about 63 in number, have performed three dramas in the past three days: 'King Lear', 'Kataledaari Doora', and'Shivaraathri'. Today the theatrical journey closed curtains in Mangalore with the final play titled 'Gokarnada Goudashaani'. This Jail to Jail theatrical journey was co-organised by Sankalpa Mysore Team and the Karnataka Prisons Department, Bangalore.

In a formal valedictory programme before the final play, Mangalore DCP (Crime) Dharmaiah spoke and said that "Everybody has talents, but they just need the right platform to exhibit them. There are wonderful writers, poets, actors, painters among the inmates of our jails in the state which have found their platform through  Hoolugappa Kattimani, the director of 'Sankalpa', Mysore.

In spite of being away from home and spending nights at the prisons, it is wonderful to have these inmates sinking into the characters that they play in various piece of the theatre."

An inmate of the Bangalore Central Jail Ramesh S V almost brought tears rolling down people's eyes when he shared his story as to how he was sent to jail, how Kattimani's inspiration drew him in to theatre, and how various characters played by him transformed his thinking to choose a new life. He explained the stages of transformation. He also pleaded the audience to write to the governor so that many convicts like him could be released from jail in spite of having transformed their behaviour and also completed their  life imprisonment term of fourteen years.

Another convict Ganesh Naik basically from Ujire who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Mangalore Court thirteen years ago at young age of 19 broke into tears when mentioned about his sister who has remained unmarried, because of his imprisonment. He regretted the crime he had committed at very young and immature age and also recollected how the theatre and painting had brought a new shape to his character, and how he quit bad habits like drinking and smoking.

Entrepruener Mangaldas Gupta voiced out his opinion saying these prisoner-artists could play at the Raj Bhavan and show the Governor how the theatre has transformed them to responsible citizens shedding their  skins of a crime.

DCP (law and order) M Muthuraya in his presidential address said that the prisoners have not only transformed artists, but also won hearts of the audience. He invited them to transform other prisoners to change their life by giving up a criminal attitude.

Mannd Sobhann president Stany Alvares also spoke on the occasion.

Halugappa Kattimani humbly requested the audience to write to the IGP Gopal B Hosur and K V Gagandeep requesting the release of the transformed prisoners.

A vote of thanks was delivered by Abhinandan Dharwad.