MANGALURU: Yakshagana, an open-air operatic form, is exploring the potential of the auditorium, thanks to crowds willing to pay.
Siribagilu Venkappaiah Samskrutika Pratishtana recently hosted the Yakshagana play Jagajatti Bacha, which drew a big crowd to Town Hall.
The crowd sat watching the show till the morning, just like the audiences at open-air shows. The hall can hold about a thousand, and had 70 per cent occupancy.
The tickets were priced at Rs 500, Rs 300 and Rs 200, and seemed high, since most Yakshagana shows are free. Almost all seats in the first class were taken.
Paying audiences could mean the financial status of Yakshagana artistes improves. Typically, organisers are not able to pay much.
If the trend continues, Karnataka’s coastal region could see more ticketed shows where people watch Yakshagana in the relative comfort of a closed hall. It could also encourage younger people to take to the art.
Permude Jayaprakash Shetty, well-known Yakshagana artiste, believes Yakshagana is entering its golden age.
“In earlier days, Yakshagana was the only entertainment in our villages and town. With the advent of other forms, the appeal of Yakshagana had diminished. But Yakshagana is making a comeback now,” he said.
Yakshagana expert Prabhakar Joshi strikes a note of caution, saying one successful show can’t turn the colourful outdoors art into something like proscenium theatre.
“Big artistes have fans who catch their shows wherever they perform. Any change in Yakshagana should contribute to its classic charm, and help it gain wider acceptance,” he said.