Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi
 
Udupi : "Yakshagana is a perfect art amd stagecraft.  The entire country is its stage and it is limitless. This has been agreed with by folklorists and scholars in countries like Japan and European countries. Yakshagana has such potentialities," said Mangalore University registrar Dr K Chinnappa Gowda here.

He was speaking after inaugurating a programme on the life and achievements and evaluation, focusing on many-sided achievements of scholar and Yakshagana exponent K Govinda Bhat,  held in Govinda Vaibhava Mantapa in Udupi Rajangana.

"Yashagana, quite sadly enough, is confined to coastal Karnataka alone since it evolved in the region. Hence there is the danger of its being restricted as a regional art. Every effort must be made to make it a universal art form.  It must command the same status as that of the Kathakkali," he stressed.

"Our next concern is to take the art to the progeny. This is the major challenge before us.  There are many ways for this.  Documentation is a powerful way of instruction.  This is educative in approach.  For those who have no knowledge of Yakshagana, this exercise becomes relevant.  Like all other art-forms, Yakshagana too has its strengths and limits.  Showcasing drama or cinema is not suitable in Yakshagana”.
 
Stage director Krishnamurthy Kavatur spoke on  "Experimentation by Govinda Bhat". 'Arthadhari' Hiranya Venkateshwar Bhat spoke on "Arthadhari (Interpreter) Govinda Bhat".  Sunnambala Vishweshwara Bhat spoke on "Guru Govinda Bhat" as his disciple.  The function was presided over by Umakant Bhat.
Govinda Bhat himself was present on this occasion.   
 
Prithviraj Kavatur of Vaibhava Committee welcomed the guests.  Dr Harish Joshi proposed a vote of thanks. Jabbar Samo Sampaje compere the programme. Later, "Natyabhinaya Vaibhava",  documentary was presented.