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'Sita Apaharan' Yakshagana
- Shama Bhate
e-mail: shamabhate@gmail.com 

March 9, 2018

Punekars had the good fortune of witnessing a Yakshagana show in its full glory. It is a rare occurrence in Pune, and it was a treat of joy and enjoyment to say the least.

I was surprised and at the same time intrigued that while the stylisation remained intact, an element of improvisation was very evident. The traditional discipline was maintained but there was a freshness and contemporariness to the whole presentation. The conscious plan of entries and exits, the aesthetic use of space, the idea to shift roles in seconds was brilliant.The whole presentation of 'Sita Apaharan' was laced with a sense of humour. There absolutely was no hindrance of language; and the music needs a special mention.



In the interactive session the next day, one could get an insight into the technical aspects and the traditional codification. Keremane Shivananda Hegde has certainly moved with the times while maintaining the purity of his tradition. He also talked about the practical difficulties in getting students for their glorious art form. My great admiration for Shivananda Hegde!

Kathak Guru Shama Bhate is the artistic director of her dance academy Nadroop in Pune.