Date:11/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/11/stories/2008041152850200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Two Yakshagana prasangas to be staged on Sunday

Anil Kumar Sastry

BANGALORE: Yakshagana buffs in the city have a special weekend to look forward to: two Yakshagana prasangas — Srikrishnarjuna and Babruvahana Kalaga — which will be staged by Poornachandra Yakshakala Pratishthana, Kondadakuli-Kumbhasi and guest artistes here on April 13.

The occasion is to felicitate eminent Yakshagana artiste Totimane Ganapati Hegde, who has been in the Badagutittu Yakshagana for over 24 years. Staging of the prasangas and the felicitation will be held at A.D.A. Rangamandira, J.C. Road, between 2.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.

A native of Mugwa village near Honnavar, Ganapati Hegde, affectionately called Totimane, began his association with Yakshagana when he was just 14 years old. While he has made a name for himself donning the role of Krishna, of late, Yakshagana enthusiasts compare his role as Bhasmasura to Chittani Ramachandra Hegde in the same role. Presently with Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde’s troupe, Totimane was with Sirsi Mela and later with the Saligrama Mela. During those days, he had performed with Yakshagana doyens Kondadakuli, Balkur Krishna Yaji, Gode, Vasudeva Samaga and Chittani.

For both the prasangas to be performed on Sunday, eminent Bhagavatas, namely Kolgi Keshava Hegde, Prasanna Bhat Balkal and Sarveshwara Murur will lend their voice, while A.P. Pathak and Satish Rao will be on mridangam and Sampa Lakshminarayana and Amrutadeva will be on chende. Yakshagana doyens Gode Narayana Hegde, Mantapa Prabhakara Upadhya and Kannimane Ganapati Bhat are the guest artistes.

Since the occasion is to felicitate Totimane to further encourage his stint in the traditional art, the organisers have kept the entry fee at Rs. 60 and Rs. 100 for the event. The felicitation ceremony between 5.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. will be attended by State Human Rights Commission Chairman S.R. Nayak and former Karnataka High Court Judge N.D.V. Bhat.

As many Yakshagana enthusiasts are known to enjoy their paan, the organisers have a special request to them: not to disfigure the venue by spitting paan juice.