UDUPI: The skill of expression and flexibility, which could be learnt only in the art of Yakshagana has brought a 20 member troupe from Sikkim to undergo a training programme in the National School of Drama in Udupi - the hub of art in coastal Karnataka - Yakshagana. The troupe reached Yakshagana Kala Kendra of MGM College here on January 26 and are undergoing Yakshagana training by Guru Sanjeev Suvarna. These budding theatre artistes joined the three-year course at National School of Drama, New Delhi at one of its branch centres in Sikkim. As part of the programme they learn theatre basics at Sikkim for a year and then went to Delhi for further training.
According to NSD coordinator, Sikkim, Rohini, their previous experience of exposing their trainees to the art of Yakshagana, especially the skill of flexibility, expression and body movement had helped them in honing them to be better theatre artists. “In theatre teaches us acting, costume and stage setting. But there is no training for learning expressions. We learn that in Yakshagana,” he said.
“Though the NSD wanted us to train them only in expression and body language, we are training them for a Yakshagana Prasanga Jatayu Moksha in which they can learn maximum number of expressions like Sringara Rasa, Veera Rasa and hasya rasa,” said Sanjeeva Suvarna.
Suvarna is also experimenting folk ‘mudras’ on the members, which were used in the age prior to the development of languages as most of them do not understand the local language. Rupa Sharma, one of the members of the troupe and an expert in the traditional Maruni art, said she was fascinated to wear several layers of costumes to play ‘Soorpanakhi’ in Jatayumoksha.
The troupe will stage the Yakshagana on February 1, at MGM College.