from Vinay Pais
for Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (NR/GA)

Kundapur, Jun 20: Many changes have taken place over the years in the traditional art of yakshagana. It is however, left to the lot of older great artistes to retain the traditional flavour of this rural art form called yakshagana.

One such artiste is Irbailu Ananda Shetty who has been a part and parcel of the famous Marnakatte troupe of Badagutitu style. He is trained under M M Hegde, popularly known as the 'Bheeshma Peetemaha' of Yakshagana.

Brief Introduction:

I A Shetty was born in the year 1961. His parents were Ramanna Shetty and Narasamma Shetty. He studied up to SSLC and has since then never looked back in his craft, as he was groomed in his mentor Hegde’s school of chosen few. Graduating slowly from a tiny role of Bala-Gopala to second grade roles, Ananda Shetty from then on has blossomed into a mature artiste. He is today a consummate artiste known for the purity of his speech delivery, tremendous body language and a commendable presence of mind on the stage.

He has graced the stage in such unforgettable roles such as Kaunsasura, Kaurava, Kartaveerya, Bheeshma, Arjunaa, Shithila, Shaneeshwara to name a few. His favourite role has been that of Shithila in the story of Nagashree. He has won several awards and has left an ever-lasting impression in the minds of yakshagana lovers in New Delhi too.