Shivamogga

Noted theatre personality Chidambara Rao Jambe, known for training hundreds of artists, passed away at his residence in Heggodu in Sagara taluk on Saturday. He was 77. He had been suffering from respiratory ailments for the past couple of months.

Mr. Jambe is survived by his wife, Bharathi Jambe, and a son, Jakkana Jambe.

A native of Adderi in Sagara taluk, Mr. Jambe was introduced to theatre in his childhood and went on to graduate from the National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi. He served as principal of the Ninasam Ranga Shikshana Kendra in Heggodu for over 20 years, training hundreds of theatre students, many of whom went on to become noted directors and actors. He later worked for theatre school in Sanehalli, Chitradurga district, and with the NSD’s chapters in Bengaluru and Varanasi.

He directed several plays, including Loka Shakuntala, Chirebandi Wada, Taledanda, Sharmistha, Malathi Madhava and Nammolagobba Gandhi, besides productions for several prominent theatre groups in Karnataka and elsewhere. Mr. Jambe served as director of Rangayana, Mysuru, and later headed the NSD’s Bengaluru centre.

Prasanna D. Sagar, director of Rangayana, Shivamogga, who worked with Mr. Jambe for several years, said there was perhaps no other figure in Indian theatre with such vast experience in building theatre schools. “Hundreds of students trained under him are mourning his death today. He had a special ability to draw out the talent in a performer,” he said.

The final rites will be held at Adderi, his native place in Sagara taluk, on Sunday, family sources said.