Yakshagana artistes may get chance to showcase talent in London

The Kuntikanamata Ltd will organise London Yakshagana Competition — 2014, a mega event to give an international recognition and a brand name to the art. 

Speaking to mediapersons, Kuntikanamata Ltd Operations Director Ganesh Bhat said that the competition will be conducted in phases in Mangalore, Udupi and Bangalore. There will be a screening for new teams and half an hour will be given for each team to prove their talent. 

Quarterfinal, semifinal and final competitions will be held from August 23 to 30 in Mangalore and Bangalore, where each team would get two and half hours. The  winning teams- one each from Tenkutittu and Badagutittu will visit London from October 20 to 30.

Bhat said that 1,100 artistes from 82 teams, including 42 teams from Thenkuthittu, and 40 teams from Badaguthittu have registered for the competitions. This includes ladies, visually impaired artistes team and amateur troupes. 

The registered teams from Badaguthittu comprises of 13 professional teams, 14 amateur teams, 12 all women team and one blind artistes team. The teams from Thenkuthittu comprises of nine professional, 20 amateur, 12 all women and one visually impaired teams. 

Veteran artistes 88-year-old Peruvodi Narayana Bhat, 78-year-old Chittani Ramachandra Heggade, Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha, Soorikumeri Govinda Bhat Dr Sridhar Bhandary, Airodi Govindappa, Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde, Balkuru Krishna Yaji, Gode Narayana Hegde, Theerthahalli Gopalachari, Hallai Jayarama Shettu, Puthige Raghurama Holla, Ramakrishna Mayya, Leelavathi Baipadittaya, Arpita Hegde, Mayuri Upadhyaya, Bhavyashri, Safia Bhanu among others are competing. 

The screening of the amateur and women troupes of Thenkuthittu and Badaguthittu style of Yakshagana will be conducted in Mangalore and Udupi. 

Each of these teams will be given Rs 15,000 as honororium. There will be seperate competitions for Thenku and Badagu teams. The winning team will take away Rs 10 lakh and the runner-up Rs 5 lakh. The teams participating in the competition will be given Rs 25,000 cash. 

In addition, there will be individual prizes like ‘chende’ ‘maddale’ player, Best Bhagavatha, Rajavesha, ‘Punduvesha’ etc. The theme for the Yakshagana performance is ‘Krishna Katha Manjari,’ ‘Rama Katha Manjari,’ ‘Shiva Leela Mahathme’ and ‘Devi Mahathme.’ There will be a team of 20 to 25 Yakshagana scholars to judge the competition. 

“This is a long term plan with a budget around Rs 3 to 3.5 crore. We are mainly dependent on ticket, sponsorship and e-commerce. The aim of the competition is also to extend financial assistance to Shankar Cancer Foundation,” Ganesh Bhat added. For information visit: www.londonyakshaganacompetition.com.