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The founder of Purnachandra Yakshakala Prathisthana Kondadakuli (R) Kumbhashi is renowned for his ability to portray the character he plays. His eloquent dancing style, delightful and extemporaneous dialogue delivery and soulful acting attracts the Yakshagana Rasikas.
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Some
of the 'Deeroddhatha' heroical roles played by him Rama, Krishna,
Hanumantha, Ishwara Dasharatha, Harishchandra, Nala, Dhushyantha, Yama,
Brahma, Vishnu, Devendra, Kacha, Dharmaraya, Jambhavantha, Shani, Vikrama
are appreciated by the Yakshagana Rasikas.
He
gives life to the roles of Dheera Shantha characters such as Sanjaya,
Naaradha, Akrora, Lakshmana, Brihaspathi.
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Begining
On 26th June 1961, Mr.
Ganesh Hegde and Ms. Kamala Hegde were blessed with a baby boy. Born in
a Yakshagana artist's family instilled in him a natural talent for Yakshagana.
His grandfather, Kondadakuli Rama Hegde -a state award winner for Yakshagana-
trained and moulded young Ramachandra Hegde in the art.
Family
His family includes his
wife Ms. Purnima Kondadakuli and daughters Ashwini and Akshatha.
His wife too is a Yakshagana
artist and has been performing the 'Thalamaddale' form of Yakshagana. His
daughters have already perfected the art of Yakshagana and Ashwini beautifully
plays the role of 'Abimanyu', 'Chandrahasa' and other mythological characters.
Kondakuli playing the role of Arjuna masqueraded as a Sanyasi to approach Subadre. |
Some
of the most mirthful and comical roles played by him are Gopalaka (Herdsman)
of Chandravali, Vijaya in Maruthi Prathapa, Bahmana in Rathnavathi Kalyana
etc.
Arjuna, Beema, Sudhanva, Darmangadha, Baratha, Babruvahana, Abimanyu, Lava Kusha, Marthanda Teja, Kamala Dwaja, Rudhra Kopa, Jamadhagni, Parashurama, Vishvamitra, Manmatha, Ashwathama, Sugreeva, Bishma, Veeramani, Yayathi, Shanthanu, Dhrona, Balarama, Ruthuparna, Chandra Haasa, Madana Thrishanku are the Dheera lalitha Prathinayaka roles played by him. |
His
Career
Young Ramachandra Hegde
was attracted more towards Yakshagana than education and had quit the education
when he was at SSLC (10th standard). Since then he never looked back and
ruminated about his career. Initial three years he performed with Sri
Mukya Praana Devaru Yakshagana Mandali, Gundabala. Later, for a long
nineteen years he was with Sri Saligrama Mela. He then had a short
stint of two years with Sri Panchalinga Mela Shirasi before starting
his own mela -Purnachandra Yakshakala Prathisthana.
This marked the begining
of his dream to perform only the Pauranika Yakshaganas. However, running
a Mela is not an easy job, but with the help of Sri Ramachandrapura
Mata and Sri Sondha Swarnavalli Mata he has been successfully satiating
the thirst of Yakshagana Rasikas all over India.
Ferocious look on Kondadakuli's eyes -enacting as Kamsa in prasanga Kamsa Vade |
Ravana, Kamsa, Keechaka, Magadha, Kaurava, Vaali, Dusta Buddi, Basmasura, Shathadanva, Raktha Janga, Saalva, Kaundlika, Badra Sena, Pushkara, Dhaksha are some of the negative roles played by him. |
Accomplishments
He brings out every hues
and nuances of the character he plays by having a synergy and becoming
one with the character. This has touched the hearts of Yakshagana Rasikas.
Bala Gopala, Comedy, Female roles, Heroical roles, Negative roles, Prathi
nayaka etc are among the diversified Yakshagana roles he had played. Some
of the noted accomplshments of his acting are:
- Baavabhinaya
- Yaksha Nruthya- Kavya- Chitra or Yaksha Dance- Poetry- Painting
- Vijaya Vilaasa -a duet Yakshagana
The concept of 'Baavabhinaya' involves portraying of a character's emotions only through gestural acting to enliven the soul of the character into the stage. Such an acting is devoid of dialogue delivery and makes more difficult for an artist to portray the character effectively. Mr. Kondadakuli has been very successful in this experimentation. Dr. Padma Subramanyam, a world renowned dancer, has called him as 'Saraswathi Varaputhram' after seeing one of Kondadakuli's Baavabhinaya.
'Kapata Nataka Ranga' in Gadayudda prasanga, 'Madhu Maasa' in Karthaveerarjuna prasanga, 'Dashakanta Embathanyaru' in Lanka Dhahana prasanga, Skandavade prasanga, 'Srishti Garjana' in Baktha Sudhanva prasanga are some of the songs which Kondadakuli's Baavabhinaya are famed for.
This is an experiment involving harmonious blending of Dance, Poetry and Painting to bring out a supreme and boundless experience of the art. As a result of this experimentation, the soulful poetry of Shathaavadhani Dr. R Ganesh blended with the rhythmic Yaksha-Dancing of Mr. Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde, Mr. Mantapa Upadyaya and enlivened painting of world renowned painter Mr. BKS Varma brought a magical effects on the spectator.
One of the most cherished experimentation in Yakshagana world is the duet performance of Mr. Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde and Mr. Mantapa Upadyaya. This performance is based on the prasanga 'Vijaya Vilaasa' written and directed by Shathaavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.
Kondadakuli engrossed in a serene dance pose |
Kondadakuli's wish to perform only the Pauranika prasangas has brought some of out of the sight prasangas into light. Krishna Arjuna Kalaga, Lanka Dhahana, Brahma Kapala, Gadayuddha, Dasharatha Avasana, Kamsa Vade, Sathya Harishchandra, Maagadha Vade, Kaarthaveeryarjuna, Chandrahaasa, Bishma Vijaya, Chithrakshi Kalyana, Keechaka Vade, Dhamayanthi Punaha Swayamvara are some of the notable mythological stories that the Purnachandra Prathisthana had been playing till now with four hour duration for each of the prasangas. |
| Footnotes:
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1)Rasika:A Connoisseur or a lover of
an art.
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