Don't demand pension, yakshagana artistes told

Giving out a piece of advice to the Yakshagana artistes, senior Yakshagana artiste K Govind Bhat insisted the artistes not to demand monthly allowance for the artistes from the government. Instead, the artistes should work with dedication and ensure that it is possible to lead a decent life through Yakshagana art.

He was delivering the address from the President’s chair at the inaugural programme of the 7th Akhila Bharatha Yakshagana-Bayalaata Sahitya Sammelana 2012 organised at Town Hall on Friday. Govind Bhat who is the president of the three-day Sammelana urged the Yakshagana artistes and conveners to think in terms of shortening the duration of the Yakshagana performance in the backdrop of people losing their interest to watch the prolonged Bayalaatas which are held throughout the night. “In the changed society, people do not have patience to sit throughout the night and watch Yakshagana performances. Therefore, the artistes and conveners should reduce the duration of each play,” he suggested.

Placing forth some of the thoughts before the audience, he said that there is a need to bring discipline and systematic study of Yakshagana. A few changes should be brought in terms of acting and staging the performance for which the young artistes need to be given right guidelines. Sessions and conferences should be held where the Yakshagana artistes, critics, scholars and audience should come together and discuss the ways to preserve, promote and bring necessary changes in Yakshagana, he said.

However, he regretted over the lack of enthusiasm among the youngsters to learn Yakshagana of late.

“The intense trainings which were imparted for three years used to generate a good Yakshagana artiste earlier. Dharmasthala Yakshagana Centre used to impart three year training, but with the passing years, it was reduced to two years, one year and six months. And now the training period has drastically come down to four months which is not a welcoming trend,” opined Bhat.

Shortage of fund

Speaking on the occasion, Yakshagana scholar Dr M Prabhakar Joshi said that the government’s annual grant of Rs 40 lakh which is given to Yakshagana Academy is nowhere enough to carry out the Yakshagana related work. It requires at least Rs 10 lakh to bring out a CD. Rs 40 lakh fund does not serve any purpose, he said.

Taking up the issue of preserving Yakshagana in an age of television channels, he asked the artistes and people to think of the ways to preserve Yakshagana from the influence of over 80 television channels.

He insisted the artistes not to make any discrimination between Thenku and Badaguthittu art forms. “The government should provide a congenial atmosphere for the artistes to survive. The artistes neither need certificates and awards nor any facilities which are given to them without any respect,” he said.

Edaneer Mutt seer Keshavananda Bharathi Swamiji and Odiyur seer Gurudevanand Swamiji blessed the occasion. Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat presided over the function.

Karnataka Yakshagna Bayalaata Academy President Prof M L Samaga, ZP President Shailaja Bhat and others were present.

The programme was jointly organised by Karnataka Samskrutika Kala Prathishtana and Kalkura Prathishtana.