Published Nov 02, 2026 | 7:45 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 02, 2026 | 7:45 PM
Cariappa is a controversial figure. (File photo)
Synopsis: An unidentified person hurled a shoe at Kannada playwright and former director of Rangayana Mysuru, Addanda C Cariappa, outside the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy in Bengaluru on Monday amid continued protests against his controversial play on the assassination of MK Gandhi. The incident came two days after Congress workers halted a performance of the play, smeared ink on Cariappa and accused him of spreading falsehoods and tarnishing Gandhi’s legacy.
An unidentified person hurled a shoe at Kannada playwright and former director of Rangayana Mysuru, Addanda C Cariappa, outside the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy in Banashankari, Bengaluru, on Monday, 2 November, as he was addressing the media amid continued protests against his controversial play on the assassination of MK Gandhi, Gandhi Hatya Satya (The Truth of Gandhi’s Murder).
Amid a heavy police presence, Congress workers confronted Cariappa, accusing him of spreading falsehoods and tarnishing Gandhi’s legacy.
The confrontation came two days after Congress workers halted a performance of the play at the venue on Saturday and smeared ink on Cariappa.
Following Saturday’s incident, both the protesters and Cariappa lodged complaints at the Banashankari police station.
The police said an FIR had been registered in connection with Saturday’s ink-smearing incident, while a non-cognisable report (NCR) had been filed over Monday’s incident.
The protesters have demanded action against Cariappa, alleging that the production misrepresents historical events and makes derogatory references to the Father of the Nation.
Cariappa is a controversial figure, best known for creating the fictitious Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda in his play Tipu Nija Kanasugalu (Tipu’s Real Dreams). The play depicts the brothers killing Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in the late 18th century, rather than the British.
In November 2022, Cariappa directed the play, which was staged at Bhoomigeeta in Mysuru. A book based on the same story was also published.
According to the play, the duo camped in Malavalli, plotted to kill Tipu and carried out the assassination. It also claimed that around 80,000 Kodavas, native warriors from Karnataka’s Kodagu (Coorg) district, were massacred by Tipu.
In the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections, the BJP picked up the two characters and sought to portray them as historical figures. The party attempted to use the narrative to play the communal card and make inroads into the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region.
Posters of the two chieftains were put up at campaign venues across the region, including Mandya, Srirangapatna and Malavalli.
The attempt failed. The Congress won 135 of the 224 seats, while the BJP won just 66.
Historians denounced the play as fictitious and propagandist, accusing Cariappa of pushing a political agenda.
They also criticised the then ministers Ravi and Ashwath Narayan for invoking Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda during their election campaigns.
Soon after the BJP’s defeat, Cariappa tendered his resignation, taking “moral responsibility”. The previous BJP government had appointed him director of Rangayana in 2019.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Vasha Gowda)
