Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 15: The inauguration of the dialogue and workshop on the theme, 'Yakshagana- Rethinking in the Light of the Present' was held on Saturday April 10 at the LCRI hall of St Aloysius College (Autonomous).
The programme was organised by St Aloysius College (Autonomous), here, in collaboration with the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy and UGC-STRIDE Scheme.
Veteran director and former principal of Neenasam, Heggodu, Venkataramana Aithal formally inaugurated the workshop and senior folklore research scholar, Professor Chinnappa Gowda was the chief guest. The principal of the college, Fr Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, presided over the programme. The chairperson of the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, Professor M A Hegde, Dr Alwyn D’Sa, registrar in-charge and coordinator of UGC- Stride, and Dr Dinesh Nayak, convenor of the programme were on the dais.
The intensive workshop was held in two plenary sessions. Each of the sessions had two presentations followed by responses and interaction with the delegates.
Professor Nithyananda B Shetty from Tumkur University and senior thinker and scholar, Lakshmeesha Tolpadi were the resource persons for the forenoon session. Popular Yakshagana artiste, Jabbar Samo and Krishna Ulithaya responded to the presentation.
The afternoon session was held by Dr A Narayana from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru and Professor K Sripada Bhat from the English department of Goa University as resource persons and the response was shared by Keremane Shivananda Hegde and Vasudeva Ranga Batta which was followed by interaction. Yakshagana artists and scholars including Soorikumeri K Govinda Bhat, Guru Bannanje Sanjeeva Suvarna, Ujire Ashoka Bhat, N Shakaranarayana Karanth, Professor M L Samaga, Murali Kadekar, Radhakrishna Kalchar, Kadri Navaneetha Shetty and I K Boluvaru took part in this interaction.
The workshop and the day-long dialogue among the Yakshagana artists and scholars intended to throw light on the different perceptions and attitudes towards Yakshgana. It was an attempt at creating a potent platform for an engaging and open-minded discussion on the constantly evolving concept and practice of Yakshagana.
Macbeth- an experimental dance drama under natural torches
A unique and experimental dance drama based on the Shakespearean play, Macbeth was performed by the college Yaksha team along with guest artists in Mother Teresa Peace Park, the open-air stage of the college at 6.00 pm the same day. Soorikumeri K Govinda Bhat, the veteran Yakshagana artiste and national awardee brought the play to the Yakshgana form and directed the performance. The enthralling dual backstage singing by renowned Yakshagana singers, Bhagavatha Hamsa Puttige Raghurama Holla and Dinesh Ammannaya were an added attraction to the performance. The background accompaniment of instruments was rendered by well-known artistes such as Murari Kadambalithaya, Krishnaprakasha Ulithaya and Madhusudhna Alevooraya.
Entry for the play was absolutely free and many Yakshagana lovers watched this unique play and applauded the effort of the college.
Both these programmes were held following all the COVID-19 related protocols and SOP, Government of Karnataka.