by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Jan 10: A batch of visually impaired persons, who had never seen light in their lives, performed Yakshagana here so well, that it bewildered those blessed with eye sight.

After a strenuous practice for about five years, the blind talents displayed such a perfection in pronunciation and dancing that they proved blindness is for the eyes and not for the art.

Such a unique programme was presented at the Fine Arts College auditorium of Mysore University yesterday by the blind artistes from Sharadadevi Development Centre for the Blind in Shimoga.

The team presented Sri Krishna Leele directed by Parameshwara Hegde. Nagabhushan and Dhananjaya played provided accompaniments.

The blind artistes performed rare acts like Poothani Samhara, Kalingamardhana and Denakasurana Vadhe with perfection. Manju portrayed Nanda and Karkotaka, Kotesha as Poothani, A.V. Rudresh as Denantha, Krishna as Shakata, Arunkumar as Maya Poothani and Nagini, Kallesha as Krishna, Chandrashekar as Balarama, L. Manjunath as Yashoda, Govinda as Makaranda, Rudresha as Kalinga and N. Manjunath, Mallikarjuna and Dhanyakumar as Gopalakas. The presentation was so good that they mesmerised the audience and left the art-lovers spellbound.

The programme was inaugurated by Mysore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. J. Shashidhara Prasad by beating the Chandemela drums. President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore, Nithyasthanandaji, Head of Sayi Saraswathi Vidyakendra Narayana Swamiji, Principal of Fine Arts College B. Chandrashekar and eminent science writer G.T. Narayana Rao were present.

The blind troupe had already presented over ten Yakshagana programmes all over the State and performed for the fourth time in city.