CM Siddaramaiah attends 'Mukhya Mantri' play's 900th show
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah attended the 900th performance of the satirical Kannada play 'Mukhya Mantri' at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru, hailing the milestone as a triumph of Kannada theatre, its artists, and satire's power to question governance and society.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah attended the 900th performance of the Kannada satirical play Mukhya Mantri on 26 September 2026 .
The event was held at Ravindra Kalakshetra , Bengaluru's historic Kannada theatre auditorium.
Siddaramaiah described the milestone as a success not just of the play, but of Kannada theatre, its artists, and the audience's cultural sensibility.
He praised satire's ability to question society and governance, wishing the play continue to make audiences laugh and reflect.
Shivakumar , Union Minister V.
Revanna were also present at the event.
Nine hundred performances — and still drawing a crowd. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attended the landmark 900th staging of the satirical Kannada play Mukhya Mantri ('Chief Minister') at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on Saturday, 26 September 2026, calling the milestone a celebration far larger than one production's success.
Writing on X in Kannada, Siddaramaiah said the occasion filled him with immense joy. 'Reaching the 900th performance of a play is not just the celebration of one play's success,' he wrote. 'It is the success of Kannada theatre, the hard work of its artists, the refined taste of its audiences — and, above all, a great example that satire can question society and question the system of governance.'
A satirical mirror held up to power — for 900 shows
Mukhya Mantri is a satirical work that uses comedy to scrutinise politics and public administration, a genre with deep roots in Karnataka's performing-arts tradition. Ravindra Kalakshetra, the historic auditorium in the heart of Bengaluru, has long served as the city's foremost venue for Kannada theatre, and hosting a 900-show anniversary there carries considerable cultural weight in the state.
Siddaramaiah expressed his wish that the play 'continue to make people laugh, make them think even as they laugh, and do the work of pushing everyone toward self-reflection and improvement' — a rare instance of a sitting chief minister publicly championing a production whose very title mirrors his own office.
Cross-party turnout at Bengaluru's cultural landmark
The evening drew a notably broad political gathering. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Minister V. Somanna, and H.M. Revanna — Chairman of Karnataka's State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee — were among the dignitaries present. Cross-party attendance at major cultural milestones is a familiar feature of Karnataka's public life, functioning as an informal signal of official recognition for the state's performing arts.
That recognition matters. Kannada theatre has historically used the satirical form to do what formal political speech cannot — hold a lamp to uncomfortable truths about governance and society, and do it with laughter. A play literally titled Chief Minister reaching 900 shows, with the Chief Minister himself in the front row applauding, is either a study in confidence or in irony — and perhaps both.
Nine hundred nights of the same story, and Karnataka still wants an encore.
Point of View
Projecting democratic self-confidence and institutional openness. Karnataka's Congress government has leaned into Kannada cultural identity as a pillar of its public image, and patronising major theatre milestones fits that arc. The cross-party attendance further signals that performing arts recognition in Karnataka is treated as a space above day-to-day political rivalry. Whether that goodwill translates into sustained state funding or policy support for Kannada theatre remains the more substantive question to watch.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kannada play 'Mukhya Mantri' about?
'Mukhya Mantri' is a satirical Kannada play that uses comedy to comment on politics, public administration, and society. It has completed 900 performances as of September 2026.
Where is Ravindra Kalakshetra located?
Ravindra Kalakshetra is a historic theatre auditorium located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and is one of the most prominent venues for Kannada performing arts.
Who attended the 900th performance of 'Mukhya Mantri'?
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, Union Minister V. Somanna, and H.M. Revanna, Chairman of the State Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee, were among the attendees.
What did CM Siddaramaiah say about the 'Mukhya Mantri' play's 900 shows?
He said it was the success of Kannada theatre, its artists, and audience taste — and proof that satire can question society and governance. He wished the play continue to make people laugh and reflect.
Who is D.K. Shivakumar?
D.K. Shivakumar is the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and a senior Congress leader in the state.
