Hello All,
Highlighting any cultural events brings me pride about my India. Here am, going to talk regarding yet another cultural activity of Karnataka state. Also, I would be talking of this event I attended, wherein My Chikma (aunt) herself is an artist!
Let me start by explaining Bharatanatyam, Yakshagana and Tala Maddale! Many of you have not seen these cultural programs. Bharatanatyam is a form of dance with suitable expressions. Whereas Yakshagana and Tala Maddale are musical formats, native to coastal Karnataka. This art form will have components of dance, music, story and dialogue delivery. India has two epics - Ramayan and Mahabharat with lot of sub stories in both. So generally, story would be any of those sub stories. Yakshagana has two variety - Tenka and Badaga on the way cast dress and dance. Tala Maddle is a derivative of Yakshagana. Both these are similar except the factor that make-ups and dance from Yakshagana is absent in Tala Maddale. It still has composition of song, dialogue delivery and instrumentation.
The event I attended was Tala Maddale. The story chosen here was Vali Moksha. It is a short story in the epic of Ramayana which covers the scenes where Rama meets and befriend Sugriva. Later, he kills Vali, Sugriva's elder brother according to the pact made with Sugriva. This troop is composing of ladies, who live in same neighborhood. The name for their group is "Yakshakoota Mahila Tala Maddale". What is most mesmerizing is that these ladies are of off middle aged! One of the members of this troop is my aunt - Smt. Veena. Some other talented members are - Smt. Srilakshmi Shastry, Smt. Shashikala Hebbar, Smt. Manasa Shivramkrishna. Himmela is the term they use for background artist who would be singers or instrumentalists. Mummela is the term they use for the cast.
It was deeply inspiring that these ladies manage homes and have such great hidden talents that they found themselves encouraged for! Outstanding the mentality of what would people say if, these ladies found their talents and practised hard to achieve the goal. Beyond the talent, I would appreciate their lack of stage fear to face an audience and perform for entertainment. I found saying this to myself - Follow your passion, no matter your age, stage would automatically come under your feet...
Please Take Care,
Keep Smiling,
With Loads of Love,
Maddy.