Mangaluru: The Yakshgana artists are not mere performers. They are icons who bring Gods, Goddesses, kings, queens and even demons alive on stage. Unfortunately, their stardom fades off with the break of dawn and now that the season of Yakshagana comes to an end, these ‘stars’ of the dusk return to their homes with a very big question- the question of survival.
The situation is not grim for all of the Yakshagana performing artists but the majority of them have to wonder how they would make their both ends meet once the curtains are down.
While some run small time business, there are quite a number of Yakshagana performers who work as daily wage workers too because the folk art can hardly help them live a comfortable life.
All the six Yakshagana troupes of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana troupes staged their last performance of this season, at the premises of Kateel temple on May 26. This brings to end the season of the glittery folk art and there will be no performances for the next six month-to-month from June to November and that is when the artists look for an alternate source of income.
Though Yakshagana attracts all, it is not an art that makes money. Hence, when compared to the other artforms, there is no huge remuneration for the Yakshagana artistes. Though some leading Yakshgana artists receive an opportunity to perform in Yakshagana Thalamaddale, the others do not get such an opportunity. Hence, some artists participate in ‘Chikka Mela’, which is a floating group that performs at doorsteps.
Around 20 per cent of the Yakshagana artists engages in such Chikka Mela Yakshagana during the off season. But, remaining 80 per cent Yakshagana artists take up other jobs.
Saravu Ramesh Bhat, who performs the female lead role in Kateel Yakshagana troupe works as a cook during the off season. Prakash Nayak Nirchal, an artist of Hosanagara Yakshagana troupe and Ganesh Chandramandala of Kateel Yakshagana troupe work as autorickshaw drivers. Another artist Kairangala Krishna Moolya works as a daily wager.
Gopalakrishna Mayya, who is the Bhagavatha (playback singer of Yakshagana) of the third troupe of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana troupe too works as a cook during the off season of Yakshagana. Artist Venkatesha Acharya of Kallugundi, who also performs in Kateel troupe of Yakshagana, works as a carpenter during the rainy season. Some others like Rakesh Rai Adka, Rakshith Shetty Padre among others engage in teaching Yakshgana to budding Yakshagana artists.
Three artists in Kateel Yakshagana troupes like Vadiraja Kalluraya, Mahesh Sanooru and Shrutha Keerthi are lecturers in colleges. They engage in the teaching profession in the day time and perform Yakshagana during the night.
Prakash Nayak Nirchal, who runs autorickshaw during the leisure time told Newskarnataka.com that his passion is Yakshagana and making a comfortable living banking only on Yakshagana is not possible.
Dinesh Shetty Kavalakatte, an artist of second troupe of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali, who also has a coconut business says that though the artists of Kateel Yakshagana troupe receive a small amount as bonus during the off season, it is not enough for the artists to lead a secured life “Hence, artists engage themselves as daily wagers, catering workers, agriculture works and the likes”.
Without any hesitation, these icons of the folk theatre work so that they can be back on stage to mesmerise the Yakshagana lovers.
