Speakers at a workshop on past, present, and future of Tulu Yakshagana here on Sunday said that Yakshagana should be taught in schools and parents should take their children to Yakshagana shows so that they can develop an interest in the art form.
Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Bantara Sangha organised the workshop at Surathkal.
The speakers said that mythological stories suited Tulu Yakshagana. Some said that there were limitations in using certain words of mythological stories while playing them in Tulu while a few others said the limitations were nothing but mental blocks of artistes.
Senior professional artistes Siddakatte Channappa Shetty and Sampaje Sheenappa Rai said that Yakshagana was being taught in many schools across Udupi district. It should be emulated in Dakshina Kannada to sustain Yakshagana in future whether in Tulu or Kannada.
Another artiste Sarapady Ashok Shetty said that Yakshagana should be taught in schools in an academic form with a textbook.
Another artiste Taranatha Varkady said if Tulu Yakshagana was to flourish, its promoters (organisers) should demand that Tulu Yakshagana be performed by troupes.
Mr. Ashok Shetty suggested that people celebrating birthdays could organise Tulu Yakshagana shows. He said that Yakshagana began as a folk art, later became a commercial art, and was now a people’s art.
Shimanthur Narayana Shetty, a writer who inaugurated the workshop, said that although the script of Yakshagana Virataparva was of the 15th century, some writings of authors point out that Yakshagana could be traced to the 11th century.
Mr. Channappa Shetty took objection to the fact that Yakshagana characters participated in processions and reception programmes to welcome politicians. He said
