BUNTS

YAKSHAGANA

 Yakshagana is a typical folk form of drama similar to Kathakali.       

In ancient history Yaksharu, Gandharvaru, Kinnara, Kempurusha were the different classes.Among this,'Yaksha' was a class in which people used to communicate with each other  through  songs  and  this  is  called  Yakshagana.Yakshagana  is a  true people's theatre, commonly staged in the paddy fields in the night and the  themes  are  from the Ramayana and Mahabharatha and the mythological tales from the Puranas.Although the name  signifies the music of celestial beings, Yakshagana is the amalgam of the sky with the earth.

    In modern times it is Performed  in two ways, like Badaguthittu and Thenkuthittu. The performance consists of Himmela (background music) and Mummela (foreground music).

HIMMELA : It consists of singer called the Bhagvatha who sings along with the instrument like Harmonium and drum in a light tune called Shruti.

MUMMELA : It consists of different artists who are dressed & are given a make up of the    character they are playing. They dance according to the meaning of the song sung by the Bagvatha.The artist speaks according to the character he plays and makes gestural interpretation.