MANGALURU: A woman engaged an autorickshaw and reached her destination. While paying fare to the auto driver, her eyes shone as she recognised him. While the fare was `50, she gave him a hundred-rupee note and asked him to keep the change. Shocked, the driver insisted on returning the excess amount to her.
She refused saying she knew him very well even though they had never met. “Sir, You are my daughter’s Yakshagana Guru. Today I am fortunate to have met you. You are a great teacher,” she told him.
Meet V N Ashok Boloor (55), a resident of Maladi near Kottara-Chowk. He plies his auto through the bustling streets of Mangaluru. But once his elaborate makeup is on and he dons the dance costumes, he is transformed into a vibrant Yakshagana artiste. Schoolchildren call him ‘Yakshagana uncle’ as he teaches them the dance-drama form. For others, he is their favourite ‘auto uncle’ as he is an auto driver.
Ashok inherited his passion for this traditional dramatic theatre form from his father Narnappa Karkera who used to organise Yakshagana programmes.
Ashok’s interest grew when he performed the lead role in ‘Bhakta Prahlada’, presented in Yakshangana style when he was still in eighth standard. He had to discontinue his education after completing SSLC mainly due to financial constraints. But his love for Yakshagana made him pursue it.
He learnt this art from eminent artistes like Mundappa Kummanje and Mohan Bangera. Later, he studied Yakshagana Bhagavatha (lead singer and story teller) from Patla Mahabala Shetty, father of Patla Sathish Shetty, a leading Yakshagana Bhagavatha. He picked
up the nuances from ‘Mandara Ramayana’ fame late Mandara Keshava Bhat. He also learnt ‘Maddale’, a percussion instrument, from Kasargod Parameshwar Achar.
Thus, he became an all-rounder — performing any role in Yakshagana, both Mummela (dance and act) and Himmela (background music).
Armed with his experience and talent, Ashok decided to teach this to children. Over the years, he has taught students of over 1,000 schools. Currently, he is teaching in three schools in the city.
Many women’s organisations in the city have staged Yakshagana shows under Ashok’s direction.
As opportunities are few and far between, he continues running his auto, as that is his main financial stay.
His family supports him in every way. His wife Rekha, a homemaker, is the backbone of the family. His two children--- Suprabha and Vighnesh---are proud of their father. Vighnesh, who is in PUC now, is also passionate about Yakshagana and performs in the epic dramas.
Ashok has earned name and fame. But there have been bitter experiences as well.
“When people learnt that I was an auto driver, they refused to take me in Yakshagana programmes. This, despite my knowledge and passion and contribution to it. I have lost several opportunities. People’s mindset should change.”
However, there were some pleasant experiences too. Once when he dropped off a passenger, the man asked him if he was related to the famous Yakshagana artiste Ashok. Ashok smiled and told him humbly, “Sir, I am Ashok. And I am an amateur artiste.”