Abu Dhabi: Billawara Balaga to Host 'Balipa Bhagavata'
Media Release
Abu Dhabi, Mar 27: On the occasion of 17th family get together, Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi which is one of the well known and oldest Billawa groups in the gulf is going to present Yakshagana programme “Shambavi Vilasa”. The function will be held at Al Dhafra Hareb Hall, Near Mina Fish Market here on Friday April 1 from 10.30 am onwards.
Apart from Balipa, Balakrishna Kadri too is another guest artiste.
Acclaimed Bhagavata (yakshagana singer) and Karnataka Rajyotsava award winner Balipa Narayana Bhagavata will be gracing the occasion along with 24 local talent in Yakshagana “Shambavi Vilasa”. This is Balipa’s maiden visit to UAE and Yakshagana fans are eagerly waiting to enjoy his melodious voice. Added is the attraction of highest number of local talent on the stage for the first time in UAE.
Balipa and Balakrishna
Balipa hails from “tenku tittu’ style and is the successor of Balipa Mattu (Balipa and Agari are two mattus which were established and accepted as unique identity of particular style). Balipa has inherited rare skills from his grandfather. Bhagavata generally is a teacher and director of yakshagana prasanga. Moreover, Bhagavata is required to be expert in all forms in Yakshagana. Balipa easily acquired all that is needed to lead the team since his teen years.
Balipa was born in 1938 at Kasargod to Madhava Bhat and Saraswathi. His knowledge and experience in the world of Yakshagana is incredible and unparallel. He took yakshagana as a career in 1951 and completed 50 years of achievement in 2001. He has worked for about 35 years under one organization namely “Kateelu Shri Durgaparameshwari Dashavatara Yakshagana Mandali”. Other teams with whom he worked are Koodlu, Kundavu, Renjala, Mulky and Bhagavathi. He is known for memorizing several purana prasangas and he could easily render about 50 such prasangas. Balipa has penned 13 yakshagana prasangas and significant ones are Gayathri Mahatme, Navagraha Mahatme and Gajendra Moksha among others. His unpublished works are Druva Charitre, Dhasharathodbava, Sati Anusuya, and Bhakta Ambarish.
Balipa adores several awards on his crown such as “Bhagavata Bhushana”, “Yakshagana Brameshwara”, “Yakshakala Sarvabhauma” and “Bhagavata Kulatilaka”. Wife Jayalaxmi is the woman behind the success of Balipa. His children Madhava, Shivashankara, Shashidara and Shri
Prasad are moving in the same directions as their father and contributing to the Yakshagana tradition.
Balakrishna Kadri is another artist who has come down from Mangalore on the occasion. Balakrishna is a well known stage actor who has performed in both historical and epic dramas. He hails from teams such as “Sri Lalithe” and “Kadiriya Kalavidaru”. He is remembered for his incredible performance in Devu Poonja, Koti Chennaya and Kordabbu Tanni Maniga. In Abu Dhabi, he will participate in short skits.
Apart from Yakshagana, Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi promises colourful events of dances, skits, folk dances, hulivesha and lots of prizes.