Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Nov 21: Newness and new experiments are done in Yakshagana field every day. In the present day, attempts to present the traditional art with unique and innovation without breaking the barriers are seen every now and then. Amateur artistes, who are husband and wife in real life, have donned the same roles in Yakshkatha Roopaka called 'Chithra-Phalguna', which attracted the audience recently. This play is written by Prasad Kumar Mogebettu.

Mogebettu took a leaf out of a mythical play and formed two characters. He also wrote songs for those characters in an effective manner. Renowned amateur artistes and real life couple Shashank Patel and Shriti Kashi played the role of hero and heroine in the play and won the appreciation of the spectators.

The play 'Chithra-Phalguna' had many expectations in the minds of the Yakshagana loving audience. It is quite unusual to have real life couple play the same roles in Yakshagana play also. However, the artistic expression by the couple, creation of situations, movement on the stage and expression of emotions by the artistes through dance rather than words, though the dialogues were short, was really meaningful.

'Chithra-Phalguna' is a love story between famous mythological characters of Chitrangada and Arjuna. This situation is not seen in the usual Yakshagana play. The play consists of entry of Arjuna, his wandering, his entry into Manipura forest, description of forest, arrival of Chithraganda who was on a hunting trip, meeting of Chithra and Arjuna, use of arrows and development of love, Arjuna going to Nagaloka, expression of love in dream by Chithrarjuna and finally Gandharava marriage are the scenes that are witnessed in this play.

The important part which attracts the attention of the spectator is the dance musical. New tunes are used according to the situation. An attempt to present the dance musical in a different manner than usual dance musical plays can be seen in 'Chithra-Phalguna'. Along with dance, acting and stage movement and short dialogues are also there in the play. So it can be called both as a form of Yakshagana or Yakshagana Roopaka. This play, which is of two hours duration keeps the spectators glued to the stage.

In the background music, Bhagavathike of Mogebettu Prasad Kumar gives a good start with excellent coordination of traditional and new tunes. Maddale instrument played by Raghavendra Hegade Yellapura and Chende by Srinivasa Prabahu took the play to the highest level of artistic performance.