Energetic dance with fantastic story-line, with very good make-up, poor costume ( not poorly costumed.. but less expensive material costume) performance from the heart of the troupe coupled with fantastic songs, energetic drums and simple stage-setting and involved audience....
that is Yakshagana from Mahaganapathi Mandali, Karnataka. Mr. K. Govind Bhat, the leader of the team who donned the main role of Mahishasura was too good. Why, each and every one of the performers was simply superb - an all-male troupe with the female roles also handled by men effortlessly.
Story of Mahishasura mardhanam by Devi who is given power by all 3 Devas - Brahma, Vishnu and Siva was told in the form of dance drama. The dancers have to speak dialogues also other than dancing. Each performer does a series of whirl-wind turns - something like a Kathak dancer, but unbelievably faster, swifter and with more grace. Audience clap and ( whistle) when the speed and the duration is longer! Just after completing it, the actor goes ahead delivering dialogue.. amazing!
Wikipedia has a full-fledged information on this dance form of India. It is a folk art and I wonder why it is not added as one of the classical dance forms of India. When Chau can become a classical dance, why not Yakshagana?
Here is the link to Yakshagana:
Mahishasura while enacting the part where he rules over Devas, Asuras, Kinnaras was delivering dialogue spontaneously! He sort of commanded the person in the audience to sit with respect... such presence of mind and intelligence...
When Mahishasura enters the stage they showed fire emanating from his nostrils in a unique way and they came from the back of the audience area - walking through the audience area - children got frightened and ran helter skelter!! It was so real..
Some photos ( with the low-battery in my camera) taken are uploaded.
The best part was when Mr.Govind Bhat addressed the gathering requesting the patrons to patronise all the Yakshagana troupes and help them keep up the tradition. Normally, no artist will speak for another artist that too of the same clan! A lot of jealousy and criticism is what I have seen amongst dancers of Bharatanatyam and other classical dance forms. Here is a man who asks everyone that they should support the art form and not get partial to one artist or to one artist-group.
Mr.Govind Bhat mentioned that they perform for nearly 7 to 8 hours in the night when they take up some topics and if they find the audience interested... amazing! He went on giving names of the ballets they perform - almost every mythological story - sub-stories - again amazing!
He mentioned one more incident - when he met a child of 4 years old in his native place and asked the child where his father and mother are in Kannada language, the child has replied that she has nobody except mummy and daddy... the child did not recognise the Kannada equivalents of father and mother inspite of being a Kannadiga and living in the thick of Kannada speaking region. He said that he is worried that such way of bringing up the children will make them learn only Jack and Jill going up the hill and not the bravery of Bheem and Hanuman! He said that his small contribution in keeping the culture and tradition of our country alive is by conducting Yakshagana even if it involves a lot of physical and financial struggle! Such dedication - again amazing!
Is Government of Karnataka doing anything for this? What about the Cultural department of Central Government upto?
India is a rich country! Rich with so many art forms! Jai Hind! Long live such rare art and the artists!
