Yakshagana artistes and their battle between the contemporary and classic

From the coastal villages of Karnataka to worldwide borders, the conventional dance-drama artwork kind Yakshagana, has traversed and advanced over the a long time, with adjustments in its elaborate costumes, headgear, stage construction and even the themes of its performances. Mainly practiced in Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagalurur in Karnataka, and Kasargod in Kerala, Yakshagana combines dance, music, and improvised speech for storytelling on stage. 

Shridhar Hegde Keremane, a Yakshagana artiste of the Idagunji Mahaganapati Yakshagana Mandali troupe, says, “My great grandfather, Shivarama Hegde, established our troupe in 1934 in Honavar. Since then, many changes have been incorporated — for instance, my great grandfather introduced time-limited shows in practice.” 

For the longest time, all Yakshagana performances can be carried out by males in open fields, lasting a complete evening from nightfall to daybreak. Now, there are exhibits ranging wherever from 5 minutes to 5 hours in airconditioned auditoriums at any time of the day, some even being carried out by girls artistes.

Embracing new narratives

However, certainly one of the largest shifts in contemporary Yakshagana was when artistes determined to make use of narratives exterior the context of The Ramayana and The Mahabaratha. Sharanya Ramprakash, a skilled Yakshagana artiste and theatre maker says, “Instead of a mythological story, a Yakshagana performance might centre around Bahubali with elements from contemporary life. Or even if they use stories from the epics, they are contemporised.” 

She believes that is a technique during which this artwork kind stays related at present. “I believe a form that listens to the contemporary beat of today will not die. With changes in society, Yakshagana performances are improvised through its speech and narratives.”

Shridhar begs to vary, saying this try and contemporise disrespects the conventional artwork kind. “There are troupes which see this art form as an industry, they look at ticket sales rather than creativity or original ideas.” 

He provides, “Even if a performance is repeated at the same place with the same story and cast, people will still watch it. That is because even though the story is the same, the dance and speech will be improvised.”

Can custom and the contemporary coexist? 

Priyanka Okay Mohan, a Yakshagana artiste and artwork curator with Suarita Arts Collective feels each conventional and contemporary types of Yakshagana ought to be practiced. She was launched to the artform by her father, Okay Mohan, founding father of Yaksha Degula, a Yakshagana college based in 1980 in Basavanagudi. 

Yakshagana artiste Priyanka Okay. Mohan
| Photo Credit:
Special association

“Most of our work is based on traditional texts but 20% of our performances bring innovation without disrespecting the art form. Some of our performances deal with contemporary issues such as dowry, HIV, the right to vote and to education.”

She provides, “At the end of the day, all art forms communicate through stories. Initially, when people did not have access to formal education, theatre was a tool to spread awareness. If we don’t tell new stories now, you won’t always be able to connect with more people and eventually, the art form will die out.” 

Priyanka says, folks claiming to be Yakshagana artistes with out underneath going formal instruction, are being disrespectful to those that have spent years coaching.

Learning Yakshagana, Sridhar says, is like studying a brand new language. “You have to spend time to understand its roots, stories and practices.”

A Yakshagana troupe coaching
| Photo Credit:
Special association

Troupes that pair movie songs with Yakshagana performances, Priyanka says, in unacceptable. “Neither is making a Yakshagana artiste, in his complete attire walk between a bride and groom.”

No matter how related contemporary tales are, Priyanka says, we nonetheless have to carry out conventional texts as a result of knowledge and information is handed on by way of them. “Each of us promote this art form by educating ourselves on what constitutes a genuine Yakshagana performance.”

Published – July 04, 2025 08:33 pm IST