Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Dec 1: There was a time when the individual artistes working in the 'rich' art of Yakshagana were struggling to find financial and job security in life. As all the Melas including professional ones perform only for six months every year, the artistes had to go without income during the remaining months, which used to throw their lives out of gear.
Even now, Yakshagana performances happen for six months of the year. Although some shows here and there are organized in other times, they are not enough to support the maintenance expenses of the artistes and their family members. Some of the artistes get opportunities only during rainy season shows, and therefore they and their contributions remain mostly anonymous.
Compared to others, Kateel Melas managed under Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Yaksha Dharmaodhini Charitable Trust (Reg), are in much better position as the trust has been taking care of the needs of the artistes out of the concern for their artistes, devotion towards the temple and keen interest in this form of art. As long as artistes remain loyal to the Mela, they do not face any kind of insecurity.
The trust has made arrangements for convenient bus services to the place of shows, Rangasthala along with dais for the convenience of those who arrange performances, fixing reasonable sum for 'Devi Mahatme' episodes, ensuring provision of silver swing used for 'Devi Mahatme' episode for all the Melas run by it etc have come in handy for the artistes and other alike. During this year, six new buses and trucks for transporting goods have been arranged. Dais, microphones and lighting are being provided by the trust by providing two generators to each of the Melas. The trust manages them out of small amounts of donations collected from those who organize the shows. The artistes of these Melas also get honorarium during rainy season since the last some years, thereby providing security to their lives even for the lean season. The trust never interferes with the convening or other things relating to the Melas and believes that everything works with the blessings of the goddess, services of the managing committee, priests of the temple and devotees who organize the shows.
Koraga Shetty and Vittal Shetty, grandfather and father of Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty respectively, had served as managers of Melas for long. The fact that shows of the Melas have been booked for 20 years in advance has come as a boon to artistes who need not worry about their future. Deviprasad Shetty has been highly successful as a convener and one hopes that the Melas and their artistes will continue to prosper under his management.
The artistes are grateful to their 'Yajamana', Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty, as he readily responds to even minor needs of artistes. When the leading artiste donning the role of female lead fell sick recently, Shetty advised him to perform minor roles till he is healed and asked others to take care of the sick artiste till then. When poor artistes wanted to build houses last year, he took interest in getting bank loans sanctioned to them. During his period, pay hike, pay for rainy season, medicines, vehicles etc have been provided to people of the Melas unlike in the past, when an artiste could only look after himself, not his family, says veteran Bhagawath of the Mela, Bottikere Purushotham Poonja.
Artiste of Kateel second Mela, Dinesh Shetty Kavalakatte, says that articles which have appeared against the Yajamana of Kateel Melas are full of false information. He wished that the writers talked to the Yajamana before publishing their articles. He told them to realize that the artistes concerned had created several problems in the past. He added that no one else would have given so many benefits to artistes like Shetty. He felt it is wrong to demand that skilled Bhagawat, Patla Sathish Shetty, remains confined to a particular Mela.
Dinakar Gokhale too supports Dinesh Shetty in condemning articles and posts in the media and social media againat Kateel Melas without knowing the facts properly. He reminded the concerned that Kateel Melas were the first to organize comfortable travel to artistes, steady increase in their incomes, treatment facility to artistes when they fall sick, proper arrangements for stay at designated places, pay during holiday season, provident fund etc. He says that families of artistes like him are every grateful to the Yajamana of Kateel Melas.
Another artiste, Harinarayana Bhat Yedaneeru, says that Kateel Mela grew into six Melas from one because of the blessings of the goddess and efficient management of Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty who has been looking after the interests of those connected with Kateel Melas.
Shrutakeerti, who was lecturer for 20 years, and has been serving Kateel Melas since the last some years, feels that discipline is part and parcel of any organization and adds that discipline in organizations like Ninasam, Rangayana etc is much more strict that what is practiced in Kateel Melas. He informs that the artistes get additional holidays over the regular eight whenever they want and the Yajamana is kind enough to extend financial assistance to the extent needed whenever he is approached, without obtaining any document. He said he is opposed to bringing the Melas under muzrai department as demanded by some people. He also praised Shetty for giving opportunity to talented artistes working in other fields during the day to perform at episodes at night. He requested the people to stop misleading others about Kalladi Deviprasad Shetty.
In general, the artistes appreciate the Yajamana of their Melas because of his foresight, kindness, humane attitude and graceful behaviour towards the workers and artistes of the Melas. There is no doubt that the Melas have been getting more popular with the people and artistes with each passing year because of the Yajamana's contributions, and disciplined, loyal, and skilled artistes never fail to enjoy the patronage of the 'Yajamana' as testified by many.
It has been 15 days since the six Kateel Melas began their tour of this season.