Yakshagana artistes voice concern over decline of traditional art form

Mangalore, May 29: Karnataka Tulu Sahithya Academy Chavadi on Tuesday organized a discussion on 'Growth of Tulu Yakshagana' at its premises here.

Senior Yakshagana artistes, who shared their experiences, voiced their concern over the existing situation of Yakshagana and unanimously agreed that something concrete needs to be done in the direction of bringing the art form to its pristine form.

They said that with the society undergoing changes and people adapting themselves to modern lifestyle, expecting the audience to stick to their chairs throughout the night till the Yakshagana prasanga gets over will be a bit too much to ask for.

Most of the artistes said that Yakshagana will have to undergo changes so as to attract more and more audience and this can be done primarily by cutting down the length and duration of the Yakshagana. “If Yakshagana stories are knit in a way to complete the entire tale in three hours like films, why will people not come to watch it,” questioned most of the artistes. Renowned artistes Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, Kumble Sundar Rao, Vishwanath Shetty, Prasanga writer Nithyananda Karantha Polali, Arthadhari Jabbar Samo said that qualitatives innovations, bringing episodes within strict timeframe and attracting more and more youth towards the art form will help in changing the state of Yakshagana for the good.

While Kolyur Ramachandra Rao took the audience to the bygone era and the situation under which Tulu yakshagana was started, Kumble Sundar Rao said that Tulu yakshagana was always looked at critically not only by the audience but also by the artistes. They both said that apprehensions were raised over the survival of Tulu yakshagana even during its inception and from there, the art form has suffered a great deal and reached the point of extinction today. “Yakshagana is 'Aaradhana Kale'.

It is one of the many ways of expressing love to god. Probably, if school and college students are sensitized in this regard and are made to take up Yakshagana as a part of learning, then future for Yakshagana as a whole might be bright,” said Kumble Sundar Rao.

Earlier, Yakshagana artiste and organiser K T Gujaran was felicitated and renowned Tulu theatre personality Devadas Kapikad was honoured with 'Tulunad da birse' award. During the programme two books namely 'Tulunadina Apoorva Bhoothagalu' and 'Belakinedege,' both authored by Researcher Dr Lakshmi G Prasad were released by Dr Kamala Bhat Kalladka.

Academy President Umanath Kotian presided over the meeting.