Sleepless and after 3 days of hectic schedules – I stepped out of the hotel to be met by a Yakshagana.
He met me with a big smile and we had a long conversation.
On an average, the artist shared, it takes them 4-5 hours for make-up and getting ready. He mentioned that he rehearses his dialogues almost everyday and does about 150 shows in a year.
He further narrated – that popular in the coastal districts of Karnataka, this distinctive dance form represents mythological and historical stories of India with a blend of folk and theatrical elements.
Often described as a unique harmony of live music, costumes, gestures, acting and extemporaneous dialogues, Yakshagana is a vibrant and vigorous living form of folk theatre art.
The costumes used are large headgear, coloured faces, armlets for the shoulders, belts made up of light wood covered with golden foil, and musical beads on the legs. They are designed to reflect the characters’ personalities, and the makeup creates distinctive facial expressions and features.
His eyes brightened as he spoke with #passion.
His smile was infectious. His energy was contagious.
We shook hands and moved in our directions.
Filled with joy, I walked ahead thinking about his #clarity on what he does.
His words kept echoing in my head – ‘always prepare well before every show and every show must be like your first show’ he said.
How much preparation and practice do you do ??