It was a pleasant surprise for children participating in the annual Chinnara Mela at Vanaranga open sky auditorium in Rangayana here on Friday when Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan came visiting. Accompanied by his writer-wife Sutapa Sikdar, Mr. Khan, who has acted in many Hollywood films, including the ‘Life of Pi’, visited the Rangayana’s annual summer camp that has drawn about 400 children this year. The camp will be formally inaugurated on Saturday.
Children cheered in delight on seeing the actor amidst them. They interacted with him with all enthusiasm and many of them took his autograph. Rangayana Director H. Janardhan (Janni) was present.
After a brief stay at the premier theatre repertory, Mr. Khan left the premises wishing the children a successful and joyous summer outing.
The mela
Like every year, the Chinnara Mela has received a tremendous response this year and children from other parts of the district are also taking part in the camp.
The best part of the month-long mela is that the children are taught the basics of music, dance and theatre besides being engaged in activities that are educative. As always, parents stood in a long queue the day the applications were distributed to ensure a seat for their wards at the mela. Folk scholar Krishnamurthy Hanur will inaugurate the camp on Saturday in the presence of Minister in-charge of Mysuru district V. Sreenivas Prasad and others.
Folk scholar Krishnamurthy Hanur to inaugurate the camp today
400 children, many from other districts in State, taking part in the Chinnara Mela
