Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali

Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali (Kannada:ಇಡಗುಂಜಿ ಮಹಾಗಣಪತಿ ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ ಮಂಡಳಿ) is a Yakshagana troupe based in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. It was started by Keremane Shivarama Heggade in the year 1934. He is an exponent of this art form and is the first Yakshagana artist to win the Rashtrapati Award (President's Award)cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lf/2004/12/29/stories/2004122912650200.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2004-12-29|title=70 years of song and dance|accessdate=2007-09-06|author=K. Satyamurty] , an award handed out by the President of India to people who excel in various fields. The troupe has survived three generations, with his children Shambu Hegde, Mahabala Hegde and Gajanana Hegde and his grand son Shivananda Hegde also being exponents of Yakshagana.

Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a folk art mostly performed in the coastal districts of the state of Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts), western parts of Shimoga district and the Kasaragod district of Kerala. This folk art is usually performed in the night and involves dances and dialogues with the accompaniment of music using traditional musical instruments like "chande", "maddale" and "tala". The unique aspect of the art is the use of elaborate headgear and dresses by the performers. The incidents portrayed in this art form are based on mythology.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/01/07/stories/2005010702560600.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-01-07|title=Yakshagana presented in typical vibrant shades|author=Chitra Mahesh|accessdate=2007-09-06]

Troupe Artists

Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali was started in the year 1934 by Keremane Shivarama Heggade (a.k.a Hegde), one of the exponents of the "badagathittu" style of Yakshagana.cite web|title=The woman who gave me love|url=http://srramakrishna.googlepages.com/keremanystory|work=Nenapina Rangasthala, Akshara Prakashana, Heggodu, 1996, Translated by S R Ramakrishna|author=G S Bhat|accessdate=2007-09-06]

Keremane Shivarama Hegde

Keremane Shivarama Hegde was born in a Havyaka Brahmin family in Keremane in the Honnavar taluk of the Uttara Kannada district on 21 June, 1908. He could not complete his primary education because of poverty and to earn a living he had to do odd jobs like driving a bus and booking tickets. He started performing Yakshagana from a young age of age of 14 and in the year 1934, he started his own troupe called as "Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali". The name of the troupe was chosen in honour of the Hindu God Ganapati. A famous temple of the God is located in the village of Idagunji in the Uttara Kannada district. He toured around the state of Karnataka with his troupe and started earning various awards for his efforts. He won the state award in 1965, Central Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1970 and a Rajyotsava Award in 1985. The highest award won by him was the Rashtrapati Award. His autobiography called as "Nenapina Rangasthala" was recorded on cassette by G S Bhat in 1981 and published as a book by the Akshara Prakashana, Heggodu in the year 1996.

Keremane Shambhu Hegde

Kermane Shambhu Hegde is the son of Shivarama Hegde. He also entered the field of Yakshagana like his father and also earned various awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi award.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/ms/2005/12/20/stories/2005122000090400.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-12-20|title=Entertains with fluid ease|author=Rupa Srikanth|accessdate=2007-09-06] He brought in changes to the Yakshagana tradition by introducing truncated versions of the art form to make it more acceptable to people outside its traditional base. He went on to become the chairman of the Karnataka Janapada (folk) and Yakshagana Academy.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/13/stories/2006031307300400.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2006-03-13|title=Awards for four Yakshagana artistes|accessdate=2007-09-06] Some of the characters portrayed by Shambhu Hegde are that of Balarama, Jarasandha and Duryodhana.cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/ms/2005/12/23/stories/2005122300250500.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2005-12-23|title=Focus on rural art|author=Leela Venkataraman|accessdate=2007-09-06] He has also acted in films and won the Karnataka State Film award for his supporting role in the Kannada film, "Parva" in the year 2001-2002.cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/10/04/stories/2002100404410600.htm|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2002-10-04|title='Dweepa' best film, Ravichandran best actor|accessdate=2007-09-06] He is a member of the Governing body of the South Zone Cultural Centrecite web|url=http://www.szcc.tn.nic.in/03_admin/Governing%20Body/governingbody.html|work=Online webpage of the South Zone Cultural Centre|title=Governing Body|accessdate=2007-09-06] and also a member of "Rangasamaja" which looks after the working of the repertory Rangayana.cite web|url=http://www.rangayana.org/rangasamaja.htm|title=Rangasamaja|work=Online webpage of Rangayana|accessdate=2007-09-06]

Keremane Shivananda Hegde

Keremane Shivananda Hegde is the son of Shambhu Hegde and is another exponent of Yakshagana. He has toured abroad with the troupe and was also invited to participate in the Asia-Pacific Performance Exchange (APPEX) workshop held in the University of California, Los Angeles.cite web|url=http://www.wac.ucla.edu/cip/appex/biosindia.htm|title=APPEX Fellows from India|work=Online webpage of UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures|accessdate=2007-09-06] He has also learnt Kathak and choreography under the guidance of Kathak artist Maya Rao.

ome Well-known Artists

The troupe has given some of the most famous Yakshagana artists like Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, Gode Narayana Hegde, Keppekere Mahadeva Hegde and others. And also Idagunji Mela's impact made big difference to professional carrier of today's star artists like Balkur Krishna Yaji, Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde, Uppunda Nagendra Rao and others.

Performances

Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali has given performances all over India and overseas as well. Under the sponsorship of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, the troupe undertook a tour of South East Asia in August 2000, where they gave performances in Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and Philippines.cite web|url=http://www.yakshagana.com/sep00eve.HTM#Idagunji%20Troupe's%20Tour%20of%20South%20East%20Asia|work=Online webpage of Yakshagana.com|title=Sep' 2000 news|accessdate=2007-09-06] The troupe has also given performance in Vasantahabba 2002.cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1690458442.cms|work=Online Edition of The Times of India, dated 2002-01-29|title=Vasanthahabba from Feb 2|accessdate=2007-09-06] They have also given performances in New York and Atlanta.

Notes