Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali
Encyclopedia
Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali 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), 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.
(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
.
, one of the exponents of the badagathittu style of Yakshagana.
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.
award. 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. Some of the characters portrayed by Shambhu Hegde are that of Balarama
, Jarasandha
and Duryodhana
. 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. He is a member of the Governing body of the South Zone Cultural Centre and also a member of Rangasamaja which looks after the working of the repertory Rangayana
.
. He has also learnt Kathak
and choreography
under the guidance of Kathak
artist Maya Rao.
, the troupe undertook a tour of South East Asia in August 2000, where they gave performances in Myanmar
, Singapore
, Malaysia, Laos
and Philippines
. The troupe has also given performance in Vasantahabba 2002. They have also given performances in New York
and Atlanta.
Yakshagana
Yakshagana is a musical theater popular in the coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India. Yakshagana is the recent scholastic name for what are known as kēḷike, āṭa, bayalāṭa, bayalāṭa, daśāvatāra . It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during Bhakti movement...
troupe based in the Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada also known as North Canara or North Kanara, is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is bordered by the state of Goa and Belgaum District to the north, Dharwad District and Haveri District to the east, Shimoga District and Udupi District to the south and the...
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. 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
Rashtrapati Award
Rashtrapati Awards are given by the President of India, in some cases the prime Minister of India, for achievements in the field of Sports, Art, Military, Literature, Cinema, Culture, Science & Technology etc. The award-giving ceremony is conducted in the Rashtrapati Bhavan - the President's...
(President's Award), an award handed out by the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
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 KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
(Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts), western parts of Shimoga district and the Kasaragod
Kasaragod district
Kasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
district of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. 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
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
.
Troupe Artists
Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali was started in the year 1934 by Keremane Shivarama HegdeKeremane Shivarama Hegde
Keremane Shivarama Hegde is an exponent of Yakshagana, a dance form mostly performed in the state of Karnataka, India. He is the founder of the troupe, Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali which has given performances all over India and abroad. He is the first Yakshagana artist to receive the...
, one of the exponents of the badagathittu style of Yakshagana.
Keremane Shivarama Hegde
Keremane Shivarama HegdeKeremane Shivarama Hegde
Keremane Shivarama Hegde is an exponent of Yakshagana, a dance form mostly performed in the state of Karnataka, India. He is the founder of the troupe, Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali which has given performances all over India and abroad. He is the first Yakshagana artist to receive the...
was born in a Havyaka
Havyaka
Havyaka Brahmins are a Hindu Pancha Dravida Brahmin subsect primarily from the Indian state of Karnataka and Northern Kerala. Havyakas profess the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankaracharya.-Etymology:...
Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
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
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
God Ganapati. A famous temple of the God is located in the village of Idagunji
Idagunji
Idagunji is a famous place of Hindu worship in Uttara Kannada district and Honnavar taluk. The Lord Ganesha temple is the main attraction, receiving more than 1 million devotees per year...
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
Rashtrapati Award
Rashtrapati Awards are given by the President of India, in some cases the prime Minister of India, for achievements in the field of Sports, Art, Military, Literature, Cinema, Culture, Science & Technology etc. The award-giving ceremony is conducted in the Rashtrapati Bhavan - the President's...
. 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
Heggodu
Heggodu is a village located in the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Sagar Taluk. It is famous for being the location of Ninasam, a cultural organisation which contributes significantly in the areas of drama, films and publishing. NINASAM stands for...
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 AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
award. 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. Some of the characters portrayed by Shambhu Hegde are that of Balarama
Balarama
Balarama , also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine being, Krishna in Hinduism. Within Vaishnavism Hindu traditions Balarama is worshipped as an Avatar of Vishnu, and he is also listed as such in the Bhagavata Purana...
, Jarasandha
Jarasandha
Jarasandha was a great and legendary king of Magadha. He was the son of a vedic king named Brihadratha. He was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. But he is generally held in negative light owing to his enmity with the Yadav clan in the Mahābhārata....
and Duryodhana
Duryodhana
In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, Emperor of the world at that time which means Emperor of India or Bharatvarsha as it was known at that time, cousin and the chief...
. 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. He is a member of the Governing body of the South Zone Cultural Centre and also a member of Rangasamaja which looks after the working of the repertory Rangayana
Rangayana
Rangayana is a theatre institute which operates from Mysore, Karnataka, India. It works as an autonomous cultural institute. The organization consists of a professional repertory company, a theatre-training institute and a documentation and research centre. Rangayana offers courses in stage craft,...
.
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 AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He has also learnt Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
and choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
under the guidance of Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
artist Maya Rao.
Some 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 Hegdehttp://kondadakuli.tripod.com/, 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 for Cultural RelationsIndian Council for Cultural Relations
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations , is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples...
, the troupe undertook a tour of South East Asia in August 2000, where they gave performances in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Malaysia, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The troupe has also given performance in Vasantahabba 2002. They have also given performances in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Atlanta.