Yakshasinchana launched

Yet another Yakshagana group was launched in Bangalore on last Sunday: Yakshasinchana. There are around 10 already in the city, most of them in Badagu tradition including this latest one. I am not very sure if there is any need for the proliferation of such groups in the capital especially since they, barring a couple of them, pay little attention to maintaining even minimum standards when they perform. That said Rangasthala wishes all the best to Yakshasinchana.

As part of the inaugural members of Yakshasinchana performend Shamanthakopakhyana. Most of the artistes were amateurs. Overall the show did not meet my expectations to say the least...One who played Satrajita was heard listing out all the populist programmes of Karnataka Government such as taliyabhagya, raita sanjeevini, yashaswini, janaspandana etc., on the pretext of making his dialogues contemporary! The hasyagara used terms such as 'sammishra sarakaara'. The artistes obviously need to be told that making the dialogues contemporary does not mean blurting out newspaper headlines on the stage...

These apart, I think two issues merit attention. First, the hall was packed despite very minimum publicity for the event. Second, it is heartening to note that there are people who are ready to spend their time, money and energy to keep the art of Yakshagana alive in the metro by organising amateur artistes...