CHENNAI: Yakshagana, the ancient form of theatre from Karnataka, now draws inspiration from film and fashion, but there are still those who swear by its authenticity and purity. For instance, Keremane Idagunji Mela, the iconic Yakshagana troupe, headed by Shivananda Hegde.
Bringing the Panchvati scene from the epic Ramayana to the city today, we had a chat with Shivananda about the language barrier. He laughs, and says: “The dialogues are in Kannada, but it doesn’t make a difference at all. When we performed in Lucknow in Kannada, that’s the feedback we received. So you see, we always hope to convey the message of an episode with dance, expression and movements. Our ultimate happiness is when we are able to reach out to our audience through this art.”
Bright colours and over-the-top costumes, which make Yakshagana look similar to Kathakali, this art form too narrates episodes from the puranas but unlike Kathakali, it has dialogues.
Shivananda opines that the dance form has declined in quality and his troupe is looking to bring it back. “A lot has changed. Very few melas (troupes) try to keep it authentic. With changing times, technology, the mind set of society, it was inevitable,” he sighs.
“Even the colours used in costumes have changed. Earlier fewer colours were used that were made out of natural resources like leaves and flowers. Now we use what’s available in the market. We buy yellow, red, white, black and mix them to get more colours. The art hasn’t completely lost its charm.”
His exposure to Yakshagana began as a child. His grandfather was a legendary artist and his father and two uncles also practiced the art form. There was no other entertainment apart from Yakshagana in the little village of Gunavante he hails from. “There would be intense discussions at home about costumes and colours all the time. Obviously, it influenced me! Though my parents wanted me to find another secure career, my heart was with Yakshagana,” he smiles. His first performance as Abhimanyu was near the village temple and “it was an experience I’ll never forget”.
He has been a Yakshagana artist for decades and yet, every day is still a challenge. “Every episode, every sequence, every expression is important. Each story has its own rasas like Karuna rasa, Shringara rasa or Veera rasa. We have to explore within the rasas and think about how we can improve. If the message is not conveyed to our audience, it is the saddest feeling,” he explains.
Though they deal with puranas, the stories are relatable in this modern day. Yakshagana is a way of expressing the different emotions of human life. It takes a year to learn the basics and another five years of training before you start off with small roles. And several years later, you get to step into an important character. Shivananda has played Duryodhana, Krishna, Kamsa and is hoping to play Harishchandra and Karuna someday.
“Yakshagana is my medium, my happiness and my life. It’s the most beautiful art form in the world for me. I am proud and I can see my ancestors, my family and my culture through the art form,” he adds.
Catch Shivananda and his troupe today at Kalakshetra Foundation for the Niram Thiram fest