Vyjayanthi Kashi, Chairperson of Karnataka Sangeeta NRITYA Academy, said on Thursday that there should be more intensive study and documentation of the art forms of Kuchipudi and Yakshagana.
She was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the three-day “Yaksha Vasantha”, a national colloquium and festival of Yakshagana and Kuchipudi, here.
The colloquium is organised by Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, Shambhavi School of Dance, Bangalore, and other organisations.
Ms. Kashi said she had been studying Kuchipudi for the last three decades. Both Yakshagana and Kuchipudi had developed over the centuries. There were some similarities in various aspects of Yakshagana and Kuchipudi.
More seminars and discussions would help in understanding both the art forms in a better manner. “We should discuss the origin, evolution, literature, and other aspects of both Yakshagana and Kuchipudi,” she said.
Yakshagana had not got the status that it deserved. People of Tamil Nadu were proud of Bharatanatyam, while those in Kerala were proud of Kathakali, hence it was time people of Karnataka too developed a love for Yakshagana, Ms. Kashi said.
Chinnappa Gowda, Director of P. Dayananda Pai and P. Satish Pai Yakshagana Study Centre, Mangalore University, said there were several art forms in the four South Indian States. A research centre to conduct research in all these art forms should be established in Bangalore.
Such a centre should promote inter-disciplinary study and research in all the art forms. All art forms were unique and had some inter-connection. No art form was superior or inferior to another, he said.
Senior Yakshagana artiste Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, who presided over the programme, said that art was permanent, but artistes were not. No art form could develop without the encouragement of the audience, he said.
In his welcome address, M.L. Samaga, Chairman of the Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, said that Yakshagana was growing gradually in the State. It was necessary to conduct a comparative study of Yakshagana and Kuchipudi at the colloquium, he said.
Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said a colloquium such as the present one would help understand the similarities and dissimilarities between Yakshagana and Kuchipudi. All art forms in the country had mythology as their base, he said.
D.R. Mythili, Registrar of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, K. Govinda Bhat, senior Yakshagana artiste, and Lakshminarayana Kashi, Yakshagana organiser, were present.
