The Late Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat's legendary role as a Muslim trader, Bappa Byari, in Bappanadu
Kshetramahatme is a milestone in the history of Tenkutittu Yakshagana. But there is a less-known subtext to the story of Sheni's Bappa Byari. That is the fact that Sheni was inspired and influenced by a real life close friend of his - the Late Mohammad Sherule - to enact this role with an unusual touch of naturalness and spontaneity.
Sheni wrote in his autobiography that it was the greatness of this Gandhian landlord's personality, his secular outlook and good Samaritan deeds that he had in his mind when he began to develop the character of Bappa Byari. The mapilla song that Sheni recited as Bappa Byari - '
Endoru kaaycheyaanu kandidunne, yaadoru kilaapamano ketidunne, andha muslim sodaraarum urangidunne...' - was also written by Sherule, according to Sheni. And there is more. The grand sire of Yakshagana world owed the prefix to his name, 'Sheni', which was how he came to be popularly called, to Sherule for it was this generous landlord who granted him a piece of land in Sheni village where he eventually settled down.
On the Orkut community site of Sheni's fans there was a post last week by one of its members, Ansari Sherule, asking for details on Sheni's autobiography. Sherule said he was particularly looking for those pages where Sheni narrated his association with Mohammad Sherule. It was only later that Ansari Sherule revealed that he was none other than the grandson of Mohammad Sherule.
Ansari Sherule has now found the book and mailed me the images of the relevant pages. He has also provided a picture of his grand father (right) - the man who inspired Yaksha Bheeshma Sheni for one of his ever-green roles (left).
