Date:17/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111754420500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Praise heaped on austere legend

Staff Reporter

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Kathak exponent Maya Rao having a word with Yakshagana exponents Keremane Mahabala Hegde and Shambu Hegde at a function in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: Imagine a biography release function that can go on for four hours and with audience glued to their seats! Unthinkable in a city situation.

But Sumukha Prakashana’s release of “Maha Bala” — biography of the 84-year-old Yakshagana exponent Keremane Mahabala Hegde — made this possible.

The audience had turned up to pay their respect to the man who humanised epic villains, portraying them as pawns in the much bigger game of power.

Fittingly, a recording of Mahabala Hegde’s iconic portrayal of Ashwatthama lamenting Suyodhana’s death churned collective emotions.

Releasing the biography to a warm gathering on Sunday, Kathak exponent Maya Rao recalled her 35-year association with Keremane Mahabala Hegde.

“It was Shambu Hegde who put me on to Mahabala Hegde. We were together on a Europe tour and we often wondered what this man — who always kept to himself, chewing betel leaves and areca — was capable of. Of course, that he dispelled our myths and became the highlight of the entire tour is a historic matter.”

Renowned critic M. Prabhakara Joshi, in his scholarly and passionate presentation, observed how with the Saligrama Mela, Mahabala Hegde entered Dakshina Kannada as a big force. “He brought in so many new elements, hitherto unheard of in the region. In fact, Mahabala Hegde’s roles — Bheeshma, Dushta Buddhi and Sudhanwa — changed our perceptions completely,” he recalled.

However, on the negative side, he pointed out how, artistes besieged by Mahabala Hegde’s expression and exposition and without the same artistic fabric, distorted the art to abysmal levels. If there is something called the “core” of Yakshagana, then Mahabala Hegde certainly belongs there.

Mr. Joshi, even as he acknowledged the fact that Mahabala Hegde had become a part of folklore of Yakshagana-dominant regions, spoke of how artistes like Shambu Hegde could achieve international acclaim only because of what Keremane Shivarama Hegde and Mahabala Hegde had done.

“It’s not easy to survive the highly influential artistry of Shivarama Hegde. Despite that, if Mahabala Hegde achieved originality, the credit goes to his exceptional talent,” he added.

At centre stage, like a stoic rishi, sat National Award winner Mahabala Hegde, speaking little as befitting a man who has shunned fame and name. “These days I hear people building temples for film stars, I hope such a thing doesn’t happen to us. I’m grateful for all your affection, but I’m not worth historicising,” said the austere legend. He had but one request: “Yakshagana works through symbols and suggestions, what will be left of it if you start infusing it with situations from real life?” And to elucidate his point, he sang a song that glorified Lord Mountbatten.

M.A. Hegde spoke of his views on the book, the biographer L.S. Shastri spoke of how the line between derision and constructive criticism was fast disappearing.

Vivek Shanbhag and Ashok Hegde, short story writers from Uttara Kannada who launched the website www.yakshaganamahabala.com, attributed the vibrant Yakshagana scenario of their childhood as shaping their mindscapes.

While the short documentary was only a glimpse into the life of the great artiste, Balasubramanya Bhatt’s pictures of Mahabala Hegde were outstanding.