HIS
GRANDEUR held us in awe, his myriad hues enthralled us, but he
flew, to the far shore, where none can see. The one feather that
fell on earth continues to enchant us.
The driving force behind the theatre troupe Samudaya, who later
formed his own theatre troupe, Ranganirantara; director of outstanding
productions such as "Odalala," "Belchi" and
"Rudali"; an Economics professor at the Bangalore University
and Director of Gandhi Study Centre. C.G. Krishnaswamy, better
known as C.G.K., is now a memory.
C.G.K. Ranganirantara, his nest, stands elegantly in Rajarajeshwarinagar
on a 2992.50 square feet area and gives a perfect picture of a
little theatre. The three-storeyed house consists of a modular
kitchen, a pooja room, a dining hall, a hall and three rooms on
the ground floor. The first floor is exactly similar to the ground
floor. The terrace too paints a picture of the stage. The walls
of the edifice are a blend of terracota bricks and natural stone
slabs that add a natural touch to the building. Viewing the house
from any angle, one can sense the stage, side wings and the audience
seat.
The rooms that take the geometrical shapes of triangle and quadrangle
are unique in their structure. The ceiling that has carvings of
the sun and the moon adds to the beauty of the house. The library
in the cellar of the house has books collected by C.G.K, who was
a voracious reader. Attached to the library is the garage.
The pillar outside the house resembles a ladder. The huge windows
on the first floor add to the elegance of the edifice. The ceiling
fans carry a wooden texture. The flooring with Indian algebra
tiles is simple but goes well with the décor.
`Curtain' doors
The main doors of the first and second floor give a feeling of
rising curtains, while the doors of the puja rooms in the ground
and first floor are a combination of wood and milky glass. The
remaining doors and windows are made of tuffen glass which are
not easily breakable.
The orange-coloured lamp shade in the dining hall, the blue-coloured
lamp shade in the kitchen blend with the texture of the walls.
The walls painted in contrasting colours, which is in trend now,
adds to the uniqueness. Red with white, white with yellow, and
grey with blue are splashed on the walls.
Despite being simple, the interiors of the house draw your attention.
The earthen vase placed at the entrance fills the eye. The vase
was used as a property in one of C.G.K.'s plays. The small, rectangular,
wooden-framed showcases are filled with awards and laurels of
the great man. The 30-year-old root of the coffee plant that was
brought from Sakleshpur was personally decorated by Krishnaswamy
himself.
Ironically, C.G.K. who would drop in to view the construction
work, did not even have the final view of his "Ranganirantara."
The three stone slabs on which he would sit and watch the construction
now form a stone bench at the entrance.
Natural look
"The house has been constructed as per C.G.K.'s imagination.
He wanted the house to have a natural look. He had a few more
plans that remain unexecuted as death embraced him silently,"
says Jayalakshmi, his wife.
The line Giliyu panjaradollila (the bird is not in its nest)
from Purandaradasa lingers in the mind as we leave the house.
CGK remains in the hearts of theatre lovers and those who appreciate
good houses.
