Moodbidri troupe blends guitar in Yakshagana

MANGALURU: Guitar and Yakshagana are in no way related to each other, but artistes of Sri Yakshadeva Mitra Kalamandali are successful in blending the two.
Yakshagana, which has gone through several experiments like introduction of English script and episodes on Jesus Christ etc, has witnessed another unique amalgamation of five non-traditional musical instruments for performance.
The five-day 'Yakshayana 2015' that got underway under the aegis of Sri Yakshadeva Mitra Kalamandali at Moodbidri on Wednesday has introduced five non-traditional music instruments like guitar, tavil, naadaswara, flute and violin.
Kalamandali, on its 18th yakshayana annual fest, has introduced innovative change by amalgamating Western and other non-traditional musical instrument with the rich traditional art form of Tulunadu. Traditionally, Yakshagana performance with bhagavathike has chende, maddale, chakratala and harmonium as background music.
The starting point
The event began with 'Yaksha Gayana Vaadana Vaibhava' that enthralled the aficionados, as it performed by amalgamating non-traditional instruments.
M Devananda Bhat, executive president of the Kalamandali, told TOI that the main objective of the organisation is to attract young generation towards Yakshagana and making the art form popular.
"Every year, we have been introducing innovative concepts to make yakshagana popular and also to attract young generation. Guitar, tavil and nadaswaram have never been used in any experimental performances. There were instances, where yakshagana have been performed using violin and flute," Bhat said.
Yakshagana veterans Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha, Padyana Ganapathi Bhat, Puttige Raghurama Holla and Dinesh Ammannaya are part of the fest as bhagawaths. Dharmasthala D K Suresh, who is Kanchi Kamakothi Asthana Vidwan, performed on tavil, A K Umanath Ashwathapura on naadaswaram and Sharath Haleyangady has been playing the guitar.
Other performers in the programme are Adoor Ganesh Rao (maddale), Murari Kadambalithaya (chende), Vasantha (chakratala), Sridhar Achar Padigar (violin) and Nitesh Ammannaya (flute).
The valedictory of the fest will be held on July 5 with the performance of a Yakshagana episode thrice by three different troupes, he said.