JOIN USThe yakshagana art form is very popular in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Shimoga and other districts. In yakshagana, the hero, heroine and villain characters are important. In the same way the character of a humourist is also equally important. An actor playing the humourist is sometimes required to play up to three or five roles. The humourist is also the narrator of the story (prasanga) in yakshagana.
To excel in this, the actor must know the story, must have a sense of time and presence of mind, role play and must be adept at achieving synergy between rhythm and beat. Such artistes are nowadays rare in yakshagana. But these qualities are more than evident in Shridhar Bhat Kasarkod, a popular performer among the discerning audience.
Belonging to Kasarkod village of Honnavar taluk in Uttara Kannada district, Shridhar had to discontinue studies after PUC due to extreme poverty of the family. As a small boy, Shridhar had met the late Keremane Shivarama Hegde, a national award winner and yakshagana expert. Hegde took the boy under his wings and guided him in the art form which transformed Shridhar’s life forever.
Shridhar has continued his learning and training under from Shreemaya Kala Kendra, Keremane and Heranjal Venkataramana Ganiga. On stage, Shridhar Bhat is well known for his roles including Brahmana in Maruthi Pratapa, Ajji in Rudrakopa, Gopalaka in Chandravali Vilasa, Vijaya in Keechaka Vadhe, Sumukha in Kartyaveerarjuna etc.
Shridhar has performed yakshagana all across Karnataka as well as Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and other places. The humourist has played a number of roles along with stalwarts like Padmashri Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, the late Shambhu Hegde, Mahabala Hegde, who is also no more, Gode Narayana Hegde, Govinda Bhat and others.