from Vinay Pais
for Daijiworld Media Network- Kundapur (SM)

Kundapur, May 24: Gopal Acharya, a state award winner for craftsmanship is an octogenarian. But he is not spent-up force, for he is still brimming with enthusiasm of teenagers. 

His enchanting innovations such as multi-purpose drum which can be played by a single man, known as Bhagavatha could well be called as revolutionary in the field of yakshagana. The drum is equipped with a cymbal on its left side which if beaten produces the sound “toum”, which by itself creates a rhythm in the cymbal. The tinkling sound of small silver bells strung to the trinket on the right wrist will rhythmically respond to the accompaniment of the cymbal on the left. 

As the drummer is also the Bhagavatha that is ‘modalane veshadhari or prime character,’ the novelty is certainly worth experimenting in these days of competitive world. As for the harmony, Acharya has improvised rickshaw tubes to produce uninterrupted and continuous music (shruthi).