'Kissing scene' in Yakshagana goes viral

Yakshagana lovers have objected to the enacting of a ‘kissing scene’ by Pathradari Jayantha in 'Gaana Natya Vaibhava' Yakshagana programme at Vagenadu in Bantwal.

The video footage has gone viral on social media. Some people had opposed it and others have justified it. The scene in the Yakshagana was of romance between Indra’s son Jayantha and Sushame. Rakesh Rai Adka and Prashanth Shetty Nelyadi donned the roles of  Jayantha and Sushame.

Adka said,“To convey the message of Bhagavatha to conclude the programme at the earliest, I just went near the face of the opposite character. I did not have any intention to kiss.”

In Gaana Natya Vaibhava, the selected songs of Yakshagana are enacted. Here, there is no Arthagarike, he said.