Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jun 8: "An art thrives because of artistes. Professional Yakshagana artistes are backed by rich experience and they have opportunities at hand to improve the quality of the performances and they should always aim at it,” advised home minister Dr V S Acharya. He was speaking after inaugurating the refresher camp for young professional Yakshagana artistes, organized at Ujire Siddhavana Gurukul on Sunday June 7 in association with Karnataka Yakshagana Academy.

"Yakshagana is an invaluable art form, contributed by coastal Karnataka to the rich heritage of the country. To create interest and affection about Yakshagana art and to create a new generation of audiences for the art, Yakshagana should be taught at the school level," he felt. He expressed happiness at the fact that children and women too have been entering this field of late. He promised to make efforts to sanction more grant to the Yakshagana Academy.

In his introductory address, state Yakshagana Academy registrar Narayana Swami informed, that the refresher camp has been organized by the Academy to help Yakshagana artistes to sharpen their skills.

National School of Drama, Regional Resource Centre Bangalore's regional director Suresh Anagalli in his address, opined that the dancing and dialogue-delivery style of Nagamandala has cast its influence of Yakshagana art. The secular nature of Yakshagana is its high point that is worth emulating. This is an excellent art having different dimensions and a separate university can be opened for studying this art, he suggested.

SDM Education Trust vice president Prof S Prabhakar presided. Yakshagana Academy president Kumble Sundar Rao welcomed. Murali Kadekar compered the programme. Chandrashekhar Shetty proposed vote of thanks.