Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Jul 20: Two Yakshagana artistes have been known to encourage the richness of the Kundapur Kannada language that has its own flair and sweetness, by making use of the Yakshagana stage.
A mention of the name, 'Halladi', brings smiles on the faces of the people as they instantly recollect the popular artiste's comical dialogues delivered in chaste 'Kundagannada'. Halladi Jayaram Shetty's name is synonymous with comedy in Kundapur Kannada and he has been identified as the leading comedian in this genre. He has succeeded in effectively using Kundagannada when presenting Yakshagana episodes.
Prasad Kumar Mogebettu (left) and Jayarama Shetty
There may be people who have used Kundagannada even before Halladi entered the stage. There might also be some who have been spreading Kundapur Kannada when depicting different roles on stage. But Halladi is the only one to have used Kundagannada since long and also evoked peals of laughter from the audiences. He has developed a skill to make this language the lifeline of his performances. Therefore, as far as Kundagannada is concerned, he emerges as the topmost comedian to use this language with aplomb.
Halladi Jayaram Shetty's comical act is not limited to visual media. He has also earned high popularity in the audio medium, because of his fluent use of Kundagannada to bring out his talent and make people forget their worries.
Whenever Halladi dresses up for his role and enters the stage, the audience as always, expect him to roll out comical dialogues in Kundagannada. He also uses proper Kannada to suit the role he dons, but the people always wait for his Kundagannada dialogues.
Most of the roles Halladi dons have excelled in Kundagannada language. He uses Kundagannada adages and sayings, pearls of wisdom, and idioms our elders used to put to use in daily life etc. There was a time when his comical dialogues were heard in every household in the form of audio cassettes.
Halladi forayed into the audio Yakshagana field with his 'Huliyiada Kala' rendering. About a hundred of his audio and videos have become popular in households here. His Kundapur Kannada dialogues in 'Huliyada Kala', 'Ugrani Govinda', 'Kolipade Ranga' 'Maistry Madayya', 'Appa Bhatta' 'Tippa Bhatta', 'Sheshu Bhandary' etc and also serious roles like Kandara in Bheeshmotpatti, Ambiga (boatman) in Shakuntala Parinaya, a fisherman in Jwala Pratapa, Kashimani in Bedara Kannappa, Chandagopa in Chandagopa are some of the mythological roles where he has excelled in proper Kannada dialogue delivery.
Prasad Kumar Mogebettu is from Mogebettu in Beloor village in Kundapur taluk. He has come to be identified as a skilled Bhagawath, Yakshagana Guru and author of Prasangas. Prasad Kumar developed a love for Kundagannada from a very young age.
He authored 'Kolipade Ranga' comical Kundagannada comedy when he was 14. It had been marketed in 1996 through Gana Sudha Lahari audio and had created a record in sales. When 18, he got a chance to present Kundapur Kannada Yakshagana Talamaddale in Akashvani. He directed 'Kashi - Kannappa' Prasanga Talamaddale by transforming the dialogues into Kundapur Kannada. It was the first-ever Kundagannada Talamaddale to be aired by Akashvani and the only one. Later, he directed and sang 'Sudhava Kalaga' by converting it into 'Kundada Kali Sudhanva'. It also was very popular.
He brought together Badaguthittu artistes and presented 'Bheeshma Pratijne' into Kundapur Kannada. This was presented as a video CD. 'Apta Mitra' cinema was presented in Yakshagana as 'Nagavalli'. Here, the heroine spoke Tulu and the Tuluvas loved it. He also transformed 'Aptrakshaka' cinema into 'Natyavalli' Yakshagana episode with the tagline, Kundagannadathi. The heroine was presented as a pure Kundagannada girl. This video was brought to market by Shweta - Swati Music, Kota. As many as 10,000 VCDs were sold.
Prasad Kumar Mogebettu also has used Kundagannada language in several of his Prasangas. He also has provided Kundagannada songs for other art forms.