Karnataka: Nanage turns to Yakshagana prasanga for creating awareness about cancer

MANGALURU: Naguva Nagisuva Geleyaru (Nanage) that has set out to create awareness against cancer will unravel it through folk art form of yakshagana with the prasanga Arbudasara Garvabanga at Sri Nandaneshwara Temple, Panambur on June 9. Nanage, a culturally inclined group of people, is staging this yakshagana in association with Mangaluru branch of Indian Medical Association as part of its monthly programme at the temple.
Dr P Sathyamoorthy Aithala, vice-president, Nanage told reporters on Wednesday that there are previous instances where yakshagana has served as medium to send out message against epidemic such as AIDS and malaria at events including medical conference of medical bodies. Use of yakshagana has proved to be more effective way of conveying a message on such health issues to the masses including medical professionals, he said.
Referring to upcoming prasanga Arbudasara Garvabanga, Dr Aithala said the dialogues are in Kannada, interspersed with Tulu catering to local sentiments. The major characters are diseases – AIDSasura, Arbudasura (cancer) and Vishakanya and other characters who portray themselves as victims of various social vices. There are also the ‘doctors’ who come in as the traditional ‘pandits’ and ‘medicine’ portrayed as brother-sister Goddess duo.
“We have used this medium to send a message as to how the disease spreads,” Dr Aithala said, adding that Vishakanya seduces people prone to vices when they are their vulnerable most and portrays their suffering thereafter. The denouement sees the ‘medicine’ come and mount a strong defence against cancer, making them flee the ‘human system’ with a message to the masses through the ‘Gods’ on how they can steer clear from this disease.
Dr Sachchidanada Rai, president of Mangaluru chapter of IMA said the reach of yakshagana as a medium to send out socially powerful messages is well-known and the association has taken the assistance of Nanage to do so with this prasanga. Dr Aithala added that with no conclusive cure still known for cancer, the prasanga has been titled Arbudasara Garvabanga and not Arbudasara Vadhe to suggest how cancer for now can be tamed.