Yakshaprameela – Women's Conference

A two day of conference called Yakshaprameela, has been planned by the state of Janapada Academy and D.K District Administration, to be held in the month of November, in Mangalore. It has been organised as a part of programmes for women empowerment in various fields. The conference will include sessions on cultural issues, Women’s of Troupes, demonstration lectures along with performances by Women’s troupes. Leading Women performers will be honoured on the ocassion.

A committee consisting of D.K Deputy Commissioner Aravinda Shrivastav, Academy Chairman Ramachandra Gowda and various dignitaries and experts has been termed for planning and execution. Academy Minister Bhaskara Rai Kukkavalli the Convener of the committee, has appealed to all artists and art supporters for participation and help towards this endeavor, which is aimed at spreading awareness on the organisation and issues concerning Womens Yakshagana. 

J Ravindra Passes away

Leading theatre actor, director, organiser Shri J. Ravindra, passed away recently in Mangalore, at the age of 62. Popularly known as 'Ravianna' (brother Ravi) he was active in social work, theatre, and community development. He was specially known for acting in historical and mythological dramas . He had keen interest in Yakshagana and was an appreciative art critical connoisseur. He was a recipient of Karnataka Naataka Academy award, “Kalavallabha”, a public honour and number of honours and felicitations.

Yakshatheru – A Grand Chariot March

A weeklong awareness march named 'Yakshatheru' (yaksha chariot) has been organised by Geetha Vihara of Kasargod for 27th Oct to the 1st of November 2003. The chariot march is a novel scheme, organised to draw the attention of the society towards the poor economic condition of Yakshagana artists and to create awareness to improve their quality of life through collective effort and Government support. 

The Yakshagana Theru will be inaugurated at Shedikavu, Kumble the birth place of great yakshagana poet Parthysubba. Then it will proceed to places in Kasargod , Sullya, Madikeri, Kushal Nagar, Mysore, Mandya, and Bangalore where there will be grand finale for march.
Kasargod cultural artists have organised special movements like ‘Sangeetha Ratha ‘ and ‘Lorry Naataka’ (lorry theatre), and we hope this Yakshatheru venture will also be successful , say the organisers of the programme, actor, director Kasargod Chinna and writer, cultural leader, D.K Chowta.

Dr. Shishila to be Felicitated

Dr. Prabhakara Shishila writer, artist, HOD Economics N M College Sullya, is to be honoured with a felicitation volume and Sanman, in November 2003 at Sullya, on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Dr. Shishila is cultural social artist, theatre director, environmentalist, Rotarian, youth organiser and an author of over 50 books on economics and literary genres. He is one of the founders of Thenku Thittu Yakshagana Hitharakshana Vedike (The forum to safeguard southern style Yakshagana) which has done a lot of good work in creating awareness about preserving value based Yakshagana.

Dasara Yakshagana Festivals

Dasara or Navarathri, the ten days festival of Mother Durga is special occasion for Indians.  In Karnataka it is also celebrated as ‘Nada Habba’, the festival of the land, with the famous Mysore Dasara and such festivals all over Karnataka, especially in Devi (Mother Godess) temples. This year the nine or ten day Yakshagana series were organised at Kateel, Kota, Kollengana, Surathkal, Korakkodu, and many more places.

Renjala Ramakrishna Rao gets Asranna Award

Renjala Ramakrishna Rao, a senior professional of the Kateel Yakshagana troupe was honoured with the Kateel Gopalakrishna Asranna Award for this year, on the occasion of Asranna Memorial Programme organised by Sri Laxminarayana Asranna (balanna) and associates. 

The award, carrying a scroll, a gold medal and sanman has been installed by a group of “Asranna Abhimanis” led by S.Pradeep Kumar Kalkura , Navaneetha Shetthy Kadri and friends. 

The awardee, Ramakrishna Rao is a versatile actor, capable of handling a wide range of roles. He is a dedicated artist and a committed team man. He expressed special satisfaction for this award, as he is a devotee of Kateel Amma and abhimani of late Asranna.
The memorial programme also included the honouring of leading vaidics(Priests), temple trustees and guests. Sri Kuranji Venkatramana Gowda, President of Sullya Educational Institutions, Sri Harikrishna Punaroor, Chairman Kannada Saahitya Parishat and Prof. Sripathi Upadyaya and others were the guests. Dr. M Prabhakara Joshy spoke on Nedle Narasimha Bhat, as a “Shraddhanjali” (obituary respect). Sri Nedle was a member of Kateel troupes, a close friend of late Asranna and he lived in Kateel for many years, during off season. Vidwan P Krishna Bhat and Srinivas Bhat compeered the proceedings, which were held at Asranna Sabhabhavana (Memorial hall).

Nedle’s death mourned

The death of “Chande Maestro” Nedle Narasimha Bhat, has been widely mourned. Artists, organisations, organisers, authors,Yakshagana training centres, troupes, connoisseurs have all expressed grief at his death. RRC (MGM college) Udupi, organised a meeting which featured obituary speeches and screenings of some Nedle’s documentations from the RRC achieves.  Sri K K Pai presided over, Dr. M P Joshy, Prof M L Samaga, K M Raghava Nambiar , Dr. Bhaskarnanda Kumar, Hiriyadka Gopal Rao and others spoke on the great artist. Prof H. Krishna Bhat, Director of Yakshagana Kendra, organised the meeting. A similar meeting was organised at Mangalore, wherein many of Nedle’s associates paid their tribute.

Jagannath Shetty Honoured

Senior Arthadari, teacher and Yakshagana group activist Sri Jagannth Shetty Niddodi, was honoured at Sri Siddi Vinayaka Kalyana Mantapa Hall at Niddodi on Anantha Chathurdashi day. Sri Harikrishna Punaroor, Dr. Mohan Alva, Chairman Alva’s Education Institutions were the guests at the honour. Sri Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali organised the honour.
Sri Shetty is a respected teacher has served the Mandali as Secretary and has been in Yakshagana Talamaddale for over 50 years and is still active at the age of 73.

Yakshadegula Programmes

Yakshadegula Organisation led by Sri K Mohan Bangalore presented a number of Yakshagana performances at Bangalore, Koppala, Tumkur, and various other places. These programmes included Yakshagana by their children, training for high school students, experimental productions and regular Yakshagana performances.

Honour for B Bhujabali

Sri B Bhujabali, ‘Parupathyagar’(Manager) at the famous Dharmastala Kshethra, is person of many interests. He is a youth leader, art supporter, co-operator, an able organiser, and a cassette producer. He was recently honoured at Ganeshotsava of Muranagara, Taarikambla,  Bajpe. The progaramme was followed by a Talamaddale “ Bharathagamana” . 
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Sri Subhash Shetty, Advocate Mumbai, Sri Jayakrishna Mumbai, Dr. Gopinath Bhat, Dr. M P Joshy was the guests of honour. Sri Aruna Kumar, Shivaprasad and Associates conducted the function.

Bhajana Workshop at Dharmastala

A six day Bhjana Tarabeti Kammata (Training workshop camp on Devotional singing) was organised at the Manjayya Hegde Hall, Vasanth Mahal Dharmastala from 23-09—2003 to 28-09-2003. The workshop featured training in proper methods of Bhajan singing, discourses on culture, value education, Harikatha presentations, Nagara Bhajan, Bhajan with dance. Senior experts guided the workshop as resource persons. Dr D. Veerendra Hegde, Dharmadhikari organised and hosted the event.

Ramanairi is no more

Leading female role actor Ramanairi Brahmavara passed away at Bangalore. He was 48 . He was on his way to performance at Bangalore. A capable, lively and versatile actor, Ramanairi was at the prime of his career. He had served Yakshagana for over 30 years in various troupes including Saligrama, Perdur, among others. Nairi’s death is a big loss to Yakshagana. Many artists, organisers and abhimaanis have mourned his death.

Yakshagana Training Inaugrated

A training programme for the students of NMPT High School Panambur was recently inaugrated by Sri B Ganesha Beedu and Sri Mohammed, of the Parent Teacher Association. Artist M Shankaranarayana is conducting the classes. 

Udupa Award for Laxminarayanayya

Senior Bannada Veshadari (demon role actor) Sakkattu Laxminarayanayya was recently awarded the Kaarkada Srinivasa Udupa award for his contribution to Yakshagana. The award is given in the name of Kaarkada Srinivasa Udupa, one of the founders of Makkala Mela Saaligrama. Sakkattu is a veteran actor of 50 years of service of which he served in Mandarti Mela alone for 34 years. He was also a member of Dr. Shivarama Karants Yakshagana group. The award function was organised by Sri K.M Udupa, Sridhar Hande and associates.

Karanth’s Myriad Facts unraveled in Birth Centenary Celebrations

“Dr. Kota Shivarama Karanth went on growing in stature to become a whole man by developing his intellect, emotions and artistic sensibility. Like the Viraat Purush (Supreme Man) of the Purushasukta he devoted all his energies to the cause of the society. Though superficially adamant in his views, he was essentially modest and tolerant. He respected others who held beliefs, which he himself did not subscribe to. He respected those remained honest and loyal to their own principles as exemplified in characters like Sarasothi and Parothi whom he created,” said Dr. G.S. Amur.

He was delivering the inaugural address on the occasion of the three-day festival to mark the Birth Centenary of the famous litterateur Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth from 20th to 22nd Dec. 2002, held under the joint auspices of Yakshagana Kendra, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi, Academy of General Education, Manipal, MAHE, Deemed University, Manipal, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Dept. of Culuture, Govt. of India, South Zone Culture, Tanjavoor and Art and Culture, Goa.

Continuing he said that Dr. Karanth was honest to the core and because of his outspoken nature he made others also honest. Karanth gave back to the society much more than what he got from it. He could have been sent as an ambassador to foreign countries or made a member of the Rajyasabha. Dr. Amur regretted that Dr. Kaaranth did not receive the honours which he really deserved.

The excessive adherence to humanism and modernity was perhaps a limitation of Dr. Karanth. But this was perhaps a limitation of his times and nobody can really be beyond the forces of his times, Dr. Amur said. Spirituality remained outside his purview because of his humanism and his adherence to modernity made him ignore the dangers inherent in it like the proneness to dictatorship, as described by Max Weber. But Dr. Amur totally disagreed with the criticism that Karanth was responsible for the decline of Yakshagana or that he was a rightist in his outlook or that he was not a great writer.

Smt. Kshama P. Rao, younger daughter of Dr. Karanth, recalled the days of her childhood which she spent in Balavana, the experimental kindergarten which the great writer had been running in Puttur. He brought up the children of the kindergarten entirely in the company of nature. He was ahead of his times by 50 or 60 years but his resources were limited. Therefore he did not succeed in his experiments but their value has been vindicated in the modern period, Mrs. Rao said.

His holiness Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Pejavara Matha, who presided over the session, recalled the words of his teacher in the school who urged the pupils to emulate Dr. Shivarama Karanth. The Swamiji admired Dr. Karanth’s way of describing man’s external and internal environment. He admired the writer for driving away people’s ignorance and described him as immortal, for his thoughts have been preserved in writing. 

Dr. H. Shantaram, Administrative Officer of the Academy of General Education, Manipal recalled the services rendered by Dr.Karanth in the establishment and development of the college.

Dr. V.S. Acharya, Member, Legislative Council, reminisced on the distinguished personality of Dr. Karanth. Miss Divya Mallya, a student of M.G.M. PU College, referred to Dr. Karanth’s thirst for knowledge and rare creative genius. Sri M. Gopslskrishna Rao, Headmaster, EMHS, Kunjibettu, compeered the programme and Dr. P.L.N. Rao, Member, Finance Committee, proposed a vote of thanks.

Yakshagana was given Universal Identity by Dr. Karanth – Veerappa Moily

“Dr. Shivarama Karanth gave the theatre of Yakshagana a universal status and brought it universal respect. But people have not been large hearted enough to recognize his contribution, which is unfortunate,” said Sri Veerappa Moily, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, speaking at the concluding session of the Children’s meet on the first day of the Karanth Birth Centenary Celebrations.

Sri Moily said that no art can survive unless it adapts itself to the needs of the changing times, and Karanth was ever alive to the needs of the times. He compared the novels of Dr. Karanth to those of the great masters of the art like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. He identified the revolutionary attitude depicted through the character of Choma in Chomana Dudi. He referred to Dr. Karanth’s influence on his own works and recalled with pleasure Dr. Karanth’s appreciation of his analysis of the novel Muukajji.

Dr. Karanth was as great a thinker as Bertrand Russell, said Sri Moily and called for a thorough and extensive study of his works, which include not merely literary masterpieces but also great writings about science in general.

In his presidential address the Swamiji of Sri Pejavara Matha extolled the experiments of Dr. Karanth to teach children by exposing them to the influence of nature. The Swamiji also upheld Dr. Karanth’s efforts to restore the rightful place of dance in the Yakshagana theatre.

Sri M. Gopalakrishna Rao welcomed the gathering. The following were honoured on the occasion for their contribution to the success of the children’s meet: Sri Keshava Bhat, Sri B. Madhusoodan, AGM, Karnataka Bank, Sri Jagannath of South Zone Culture Centre, Prof. Vijay Patherpekar. 

In the various competitions in cultural programmes held throughout the day EMHS, Kunjibettu, bagged the championship and qualified itself for the trophy, a large size portrait of Dr. Karanth. Nearly 300 pupils from 26 High Schools participated enthusiastically in different cultural competitions like folk songs and dance, skits, painting, quiz, preparation of models of scientific equipment and Yakshagana.
Sri S. R. Arunkumar compeered the programme.

Sediyapu Award to Prof. T. Keshava Bhat

The Sediyapu Award of 2003 was presented to Prof. T. Keshava Bhat, well-known scholar, at a function organized by R. G. Pai Samshodhana Kendra on 21st June, 2003 (Saturday).

The Award is presented every year to a scholar who has made significant contribution to the study of Kannada language or literature. This prize was instituted with the help of the endowment created by Dr. S. J. Bhat, son of Sediyapu Krishna Bhat, and substantial donations made by the Sediyapu Commemoration Committee, Bantwal.

The award was presented by Dr. H. Shantharam, Administrative Officer, Academy of General Education. Thanking the organisers for the Award, Prof. Keshava Bhat recounted his research activities in relation to Kannada language and Yakshagana. He donated a few of his books to Kendra. 

Dr. Shesha Shastri, well known scholar from Hyderabad, delivered a lecture on Kannada culture as seen in the epics – a scholarly lecture in memory of late Sediyapu Krishna Bhat.

Sri Erya Laxminarayana Alva gave the key note address. Prof. M. Ramachandra Proposed a vote of thanks.

Being a rare artistic blend of stylistic music, vigorous dance, colourful costumes and extempore dialogues, yakshagana reveals many features of classical dance and drama, identified and described in Natya Shastra. However, for various non artistic reasons the living theatre of Yakshagana seems to neglect its own tradition and allow itself to be commercially tampered with, causing anxiety among the rasikas.

Hence it is proposed to make an academic analytical study of various aspects of Yakshagana against the background of Indian Classical Theatre. An appraisal of Yakshagana With the comparative knowledge of other classical art forms should bring a feeling of self-assurance and confidence even among the Yakshagana Artists to continue its tradition maintaining its purity and artistic wealth.
With these views in mind, we have decided to organize a workshop on Yakshagana at Udupi on 2,3,4 November 2003. This workshop is being planned with the blessings, guidance and patronage of Sri Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji and Sri Sri Vishwa Prasanna Theertha Swamiji of Pejavara Mutt,Udupi.

Dancer Scholar Padma Bhushana Dr.Padma Subramanyam, Chennai; Shatavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh, Bangalore; Dr.R. Satyanarayana, Mysore; Keremane Shambu Hegde (Yakshagana Artiste); Guru Sanjeeva Suvarna (Yakshagana Guru) Dr.M.Prabhakara Joshy and many other experts in various fields of dance and drama arre going to participate in this National Level Workshop.