A series of ‘talamaddale’ at Kateel from July 11

Yakshagana lovers who have not heard the rich voice of ‘bhagavatha’ (singer) Polya Lakshminarayana Shetty in the recent years have a golden opportunity coming their way — he is taking part in a series of ten-day ‘talamaddale’ programmes which will begin at Kateel from July 11. Sponsored by the Durgaparameshwari Temple, it will be the tenth annual ‘talamaddale’ programme, at Kateel. Mr. Shetty would participate in the programmes on July 19 and July 20.

Mr. Shetty was the most sought after ‘bhagavatha’ in 1980s before shifting to Mumbai in the late 1980s to work with a nationalised bank.

His popularity was such that some of the Yakshagana organisers were inviting him from Mumbai to sing in ‘melas’ (touring troupes) in the coastal belt as guest singer. Mr. Shetty had to depend on flight mode to travel between the two cities. After he shifted to Mumbai his voice was less heard in Yakshagana melas in the coastal belt.

Mr. Shetty had sung in Yakshagana melas like Kadri, Kateel and Perdoor before shifting to Mumbai and had sung in some Yakshagana audio cassettes.

As an amateur artiste, Na. Karantha Peraje said Mr. Shetty’s voice “is a mixture of melody with slow vibration”.

In the ten-day programme a majority of star singers and star performers of Tenku Thittu School of Yakshagana would participate.

The series of ‘prasangas’ scheduled in the order of days from July 11 would be Vishwaroopa Vrathropakhayana; Gayatri Mahatme; Ashtakshari Mahatme; Shweta Kumara Charitre; Trayambaka Rudra Mahatme; Devayani Kalyana; Ravana Vadhe; Indrakeelaka; Karna Bhedana and Karna Parva; Ramanjaneya Kalaga and Bheeshmarjuna Kalaga.

Some of the other noted ‘bhagawathas’ participating would be Vidwan Ganapathi Bhat, Puttige Raghurama Holla, Padyana Ganapathi Bhat, Leelavathi Baipadithaya, Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha, Kuriya Ganapathi Shastri and Kubanur Sridhar Rao.

The ‘arthadaris’ would include Kumble Sundar Rao, M. Prabhakara Joshi, Moodambail Gopalakrishna Shastry, Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, K. Govinda Bhat, Ramananda Banari, Vidwan Hiranya Venkateshwar Bhat and others.

The programmes would commence at 4.30 p.m. every day except on July 20.

On the last day there will be two ‘prasangas’ at 9.30 a.m. and 2 p.m.