Noted Yakshagana Artiste Seetharam Kateel to Perform in Dubai

Media Release

Dubai, Nov 22: Seetharam Kateel, who has carved out a niche for himself in both forms of Yakshagana art, Tenku Tittu and Badagu Tittu, through his talented portrayals of comic roles, is set to perform in Dubai. Kateel, who is fondly called ‘Charlie Chaplin of Yakshagana’ by his fans, will be performing here at Dhow Palace Hotel on Friday November 26.
 
This illustrious Yakshagana artiste will be visiting the city on the invitation of Billawa Balaga Dubai as a guest artiste for their 13th annual family get-together event, ‘Billawa Mahotsava 2010’. He will perform in the Yakshagana episode, Birdhda Beerer, and also a play titled, ‘Maani Maayandal’. Both these programmes will be staged after lunch, and are expected to start sharp at 2 pm.

Seetharam Poojary Kateel is the recipient of over 250 felicitations so far, and Billawa Balaga Dubai will be the first overseas Billawa group to honour this great artiste.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Sudhakar Thumbay, founder of Billawa Balaga Dubai, and committee member of Yakshamitra Dubai, said that he considers the fact that a great artiste like Seetharam Kattel has accepted their invitation to perform in Dubai, as a great honour for the Billawa community in Dubai. He added that for the Yakshagana lovers in the city, it will be a privilege to watch Seetharam perform on stage. It is for the very first time that a Yakshagana artiste of the stature of Seetharam Kateel is arriving in Dubai, and it will be a treat for all Yakshagana lovers to enjoy his classy performances, he explained.

Awards conferred on Seetharam Kateel include Aryabatta Prashasti, district level literary award, Akhila Bharata Sahitya Prashati, Kerala – Karnataka Gadinadu Sahitya Prashasti, and Maharashtra-Karnataka Sahitya Prashasti.

Seetharam Kateel will be donning two roles, those of Rama Joisa and Payya Baida, in the Yakshagana performance, Birdhda Beerer. It is another attraction that the Tuluvas residing in Dubai will be eagerly looking forward to.

Ardent Yakshagana exponent and former convenor of Billawa Balaga Dubai, Raghuram Suvarna, who is actively involved with this arrangement, revealed that the Yakshagana episode that is set to presented next Friday is very hilarious, and felt that every lover of yakshagana should come and watch the programme.

Chandrashekar M, president of Billawa Balaga Dubai, commented that his organization, while chalking out programmes, has always given high priority to the interests of the audience. He noted that this point has since been emulated by several other organizations.

Yakshagana lovers can collect the invitations from the below-mentioned Billawa Balaga Dubai Yakshagana Management Committee members:

Raghuram Suvarna (050-4561894), Sudhakar Thumbay (050-3580329), or Karunakar Bangera (050-4691294).

Kateel also happens to be the director of Thokuru Chikka Mela, which is an in-house Yakshagana troupe that has given more than 30,000 performances in the last eight years. He has also provided Yakshagana training including in English to the children, and has contributed towards the upliftment of this rich culture of Tulunadu.

Billawa Balaga Dubai is celebrating its thirteenth anniversary this year, and the event of Gulf Billawa Sangha will be the first programme of this year, which has been named ‘Billawa Mahotsava 2010’.

Apart from Yakshagana, two plays, Maani Maayandal, and Drashyawali, will also be staged on this occasion. These are historical and emotional classics that will be bringing to life the way of life and culture of Tulunadu. Also to be staged at this venue are, short, uproarious skits, and enthralling performances by kids and members of women’s wing of Billawa Balaga.

Carrying forward with creative, innovative and trendsetting style of delivering family get-together events, Billawa Balaga Dubai promises that ‘Billawa Mahotsava 2010’ will be memorable event for the people from Karnataka coast living in Dubai.