Soon, people in Maharashtra could be watching Yakshagana episodes (prasangas) in Marathi. A team of Yakshagana enthusiasts from Pune have been attempting to write and perform Yakshagana episodes in Marathi.
The team comprises Vijaykumar Phatarpekar from Sawantwadi and author of Yakshgaan Kala Ani Abhyas (Yakshagana artform and practice); Gururaj Kulkarni from Pune; Jayant Gadgil, polymer scientist; Mangesh Joshi, actor; and Sriram Hallur, who visited Yakshagana Kendra here recently.
They were impressed by the Abhimanyu Kalaga and Jatayu Moksha performed by students of Yakshagana Kendra. Mr. Kulkarni had visited Udupi in 1984 and met the late Janapith awardee Kota Shivaram Karanth.
Kannada Sangha
Mr. Kulkarni said around 2.5 lakh people from Karnataka resided in Pune, and the Kannada Sangha has been organising Yakshagana performances. “The Kannada Sangha is helping the team to perform Yakshagana in Marathi,” he said.
“The younger generation of residents in Pune spoke Marathi. Yakshagana episodes in Marathi could catch their interest. Once Marathi Yakshagana picks up in Pune, it will be in demand in Solapur, Kolhapur and other cities in no time,” said Mr. Phatarpekar.
This team intends to study five to six episodes of Yakshagana and then translate them to Marathi. They also intend to form an association which will train people and students in Pune with the help of the Yakshagana Kendra to give Yakshagana performances in Marathi.
‘Energtic art form’
“Yakshagana is an energetic and attractive art form,” said Mr. Gadgil. “It has all elements – acting, music, dance, and elaborate costumes to the keep the audience enthralled,” said Mr. Joshi.
Bannanje Sanjeeva Suvarna, principal of Yakshagana Kendra, said besides Kannada, Yakshagana episodes had been staged in Tulu, Sanskrit and English. “I am glad that Yakshagana is spreading to other States,” he said.