Mangaluru
Even as the Forest Department and Police have been conducting raids at the residences of celebrities and politicians after the arrest of Big Boss Kannada contestant Varthur Santhosh, Yakshagana artistes have taken a leaf out of the topic to enthral audience.
Yakshagana artistes Dinesh Kodapadavu and Ganesh Shetty Kannadikatte presented a humorous sequence relating to the tiger claw issue in a Yakshaganaepisode and the video of the same has gone viral.
One of the characters in the Yakshagana, a hunter, tells the King that he could not find a single tiger in the forest during his last venture and he vouches for it as a direct impact of forest department rule pertaining to tiger claw. Somebody said those possessing tiger claws will be sent to jail. Hence, all tigers are hiding in the forest to avoid arrest, the hunter tells the King.
However, the King immediately clarifies that only those human beings, who wear the tiger claws around their necks, are liable to be punished, not tigers that have claws. Artistes say that it is common in Yakshagana being presented by professional troupes to blend major developments in the society with humorous dialogues to enthral audience. The instances of drawing inspiration from songs or scenes from hit movies are now becoming increasingly common in Yakshagana.
Yakshagana artiste Suresh Kolekadi told that he also has seen the video footage that has gone viral. One of the artistes is part of Bappanadu Mela, while another is a member of Kateel Mela. However, the episode in the video was not part of shows of Bappanadu and Kateel Melas. It was part of a Yakshagana show organised by amateur artistes. It is common in Yakshagana to highlight local issues and developments, he added.
