Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 20: After nearly four decades, BSKB Association (Gokul), Sayan Mumbai, presented a spectacular Yakshagana performance titled ‘Sampoorna Dashavatara’ at the Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Music Sabha, Kings Circle, as part of its centenary celebrations. The performance was held at the Shanmukhananda Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Sabha Hall on Saturday night, drawing art lovers and the Kannada community in large numbers.
The event, held in one of Asia’s largest and most prestigious auditoriums, ran continuously from 8 pm to 6 am under the guidance of Dr Suresh S Rao Katilu, president of BSKB Association and Gopalakrishna Public Trust. Yakshadhruva Satish Shetty Patla expertly directed the performance, which featured renowned artists from the Pavanje Mela and Tenk-Badgu style. The performance revived the classical art form and added a historic milestone to Karnataka’s cultural legacy.
BSKB Association officials said that the performance restored the Yakshagana tradition, which had been dormant at the Shanmukhananda Sabha for over 42 years. Art enthusiasts expressed delight at the revival of the rich cultural heritage through this marathon performance.
Satish Shetty Patla, founder-president of Yakshadhruva Patla Foundation, was felicitated by BSKB officials, including Dr Suresh S Rao Katilu, Kanyana Dr Sadashiv K Shetty, Bantar Sangh president Praveen Bhoj Shetty, B Vivek Shetty of Vishwat Chemicals, Manmohan R Shetty of Adlabs, Kishan J Shetty of Channel Freight Services Pvt Ltd, and other dignitaries. The artists and sponsors of the Yakshagana were also honoured for their contributions.
The ‘Dashavatara’ Yakshagana featured Bharat Shetty Siddakatte and Manvit Shetty Ira as Bhagavatas. Gurupraasad Bolinjadak, Prashanth Shetty Vagenadu, and Kaushik Rao Puttige performed the chende-maddale, accompanied by Purnesh Acharya on chakrataal. Rajesh Nitte, Yogeesh Kadaba, and Vishwas Kavoor played female roles, while Mavvaru Balakrishna Maniyani and Sandesh Mandar provided comic relief. Supporting roles were performed by Radha Krishna Navad, Subray Holl Kasaragod, Divan Shivashankar Bhat, Dinesh Shetty Kavalakatte, Santosh Kumar Manya, Rakesh Rai Adka, Madhav Kolattamjal, Mohan Bellipadi, Manish Patali, Lokesh Muchuru, Ranjith Mall, Ramesh Patrame, Divakar Kaniyuru, Madhuraj Permude, Suhas Panjikallu, Lakshan Permude, Bhuvan Moodujeppu, and Manvit Nidodi.
Guest artists from Tenk-Tittu included Balip Shivashankar Bhat, Amruth Adiga, Vasudev Rangabhat, Prashanth Shetty Nelyadi, Prajwal Kumar Guruvayankere, and Akshay Bhat; from Badgu-Tittu, Raghavendra Mai Haladi, Prasanna Bhat Ballal, Sunil Bhandari Kadatoka, Sujan Haladi, Jalavalli Vidyadhar Rao, Chandrahas Gowda, Sadhav Naguru, and Yuvraj Naik performed to entertain the audience.
BSKB Association’s first woman president Vijayalakshmi Suresh Rao, vice presidents Y Mohanraj and Chitra A Melmane, honorary secretary A P K Poti, honorary treasurer Ganesh Bhat, co-secretaries P Vinodini R Rao and Prashanth R Hele, youth wing president Lakshmi S Udupa, along with officials from Gopalakrishna Public Trust and other office-bearers, attended the event.
The programme began with a special pooja at Shri Gopalakrishna Mandir in Gokul, conducted by Ganesh Bhat, S Ramavithal Kalluray, and Akshay Ballal, Geetha R L Bhat delivered the inaugural speech and Ashok Pakkal introduced the guests. The felicitation ceremony was hosted by Mohan Rai Karnuru.