Entire Mahabharat in 9 hours, Yakshagana style

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Which is why the proponents of Yakshagana—Karnataka’s unique but dying theatre form that comprises dance, music, loud costume and make-up—have decided to stage a nine-hour performance, in which they will tell the entire story of the Indian epic Mahabharat.

The show, featuring 75 artistes, will be staged in Mangalore on July 6, with the intention of wowing and wooing the youngsters and techies. Concerned over the declining popularity of Karnataka’s native art form, Yakshagana proponents decided to come up with an extravagant show to win over the youngsters with the art’s grandeur.

Mohan Kumar Ammunje and his 75-member ensemble will present ‘Sampoorna Mahabharata’ in a Yakshagana ballet. Ammunje told dna his team has taken up a mammoth task as there have been ballets earlier featuring segments of Mahabharat, but never before has there been a ballet telling the entire story of the epic.

A host of Yakshagana writers, artistes, interpreters and musicians from various Yakshagana melas have joined hands for the project. Some of the artistes who are coming together for the first-ever complete portrayal of Mahabharat are from major Yakshagana melas like Kateel, Dharmasthala, Yadaneer and Hosanagar.

Another highlight of the nine-hour ballet will be the coming together of the two styles of Yakshagana, Thenku and Badagu, which have hitherto been depicted as opposite.