List of Yakshagana plays in the Kannada language

Yakshagana (lit. "Songs of the demi-gods") is a composite folk-dance-drama or folk theater of southern India which combines literature, music, dance and painting. The best-known forms of this art, written in the Kannada language, are from the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi district, Uttara Kannada and to some extent from the Shimoga district of modern Karnataka.Sahitya Akademi (1992), p. 4621Ashton (2003), p. 17–18, p. 27Brandon and Banham (1993), p. 115 According to the Kannada playwright and Yakshagana researcher Shivarama Karanth, there are over one hundred such plays written in Kannada in the past few centuries though not more than fifty have been staged and gained popularity.Karantha (1997), p.68 The metrical forms used to compose these plays are usually native Kannada forms such as dvipadi (couplet, 2-line verse), caupadi (4-line verse), sangatya (also 4-line) and three or four types of shatpadi (6-line verse). Some Sanskritic metrical forms, such as the vrattas (4 line verse) and kandas (chapter) were also used for composition. The composed lines lend themselves to tala (beats) and are hence suitable for dance-dramas.Karantha (1997), p.69

There are a variety of dance-dramas collectively termed as Yakshagana. The Yakshagana Tenkutittu (lit. "Yakshagana of the southern style") is popular primarily in the Mangalore region and the Yakshagana Badagatittu Bayalaata (lit. "Yakshagana of northern style performed outdoors") is popular in Udupi and surrounding regions.Ashton (2003), p. 17 Other art forms also grouped under Yakshagana are the Nagamandalam, a dance meant to appease the deity Naga, and a variety of bhuta (spirit) dances. The "Yakshagana Tenkutittu" is more akin to the classical Kathakali of Kerala. According to Karanth, the region between Udupi and Ikkeri could be where the Yakshagana of the northern style originated.Karantha in Ashton (2003), pp. 21–22 Based on internal evidence, Karanth dates these plays to about a 100 years prior to their earliest available copy.Karantha (1997), p.151 This list is not exhaustive. Many plays never reached the stage and among those that did, several plays may not have gained popularity or may longer be popular. Aliya Lingaraja, a member of the Mysore royal family and a writer in the Mysore court wrote more than forty plays which are not in this list.Karantha (1997), p.173

From about the 1960s, the Kannada Yakshaganas of the Tenkutittu style (southern style) have been replaced almost entirely by the Tulu language. According to Muthukumaraswamy and Kaushal this appears to be a form of "protest" against playing the traditional themes in Kannada taken from classical sources and a preference for local folk themes in Tulu language.Muthukumaraswamy, Kaushal (2014), p.174

The list

+ Noted Yakshagana plays in the Kannada language Play Author Location Period Earliest available copySugriva VijayaAshton (2003), p. 21–22 Kandukuru Rudrakavi 16th century~1550Virata ParvaKarantha (1997), p.162 Vishnu Varamballi Brahmavara16th century 1564 Banasura Kalaga Vishnu Varamballi 1683Indra Kilaka Vishnu Varamballi 1678 Sambarasura Kalaga Subramanya Nagire Gersoppa16th century 1623 Ravanodbhava Subramanya Nagire 16th-17th century Krsna SandhanaKarantha (1997), p.163 Devidasa Barkur or Udupi16th century 1665 Bhisma Parva Devidasa 1692 Abhimanyu Kalaga Devidasa 1695 Saindhava Vadha Devidasa 16th-17th century Chitrasena Kalaga Devidasa 1695 Girija Kalyana Devidasa 16th-17th centuryKrsnarjuna Putrakamesti Devidasa 1618 Indra Kilaka Devidasa 16th-17th centuryDevi Mahatme Devidasa 16th-17th century Babhruvahana Kalaga Devidasa 1647Sri Krsna Balalila Devidasa 16th-17th centuryVenkatesa Mahatme Devidasa 16th-17th centuryKrsnarjuna KalagaKarantha (1997), p.164 Venkata Pandesvar 16th century 1663Tamradhavaja KalagaKarantha (1997), p.169 Rama Sivapura16th century 1691 PutrakamestiKarantha (1997), p.165 Anonymous 1652 Rukmini SwayamvaraKarantha (1997), p.151 Anonymous 1678 Panchavati Anonymous 1657 Pattabhisheka Anonymous 1657Kumbhakarna Vadha Anonymous 1652Sabha Lakshana Anonymous 1623Airavata Anonymous 1646Kusalava Anonymous 1735Krsna Balalila Anonymous 1652Putrakamesti Anonymous 1651Babhrvahana Kalaga Anonymous 17th centuryChandravaliKarantha (1997), p.167 Nagappayya Dvajapura17th century 1703 Nala Damayanti Nagappayya 17th-18th century Ghatotkaca Nagappayya 17th-18th century GayacharitreKarantha (1997), pp.167–168 Halemakki Rama Halemakki17th century 1618 Lava KusaKarantha (1997), p.170 Rama Bhatta Hattiangadi 17th century 17th-18th centuryDraupadi Swayamvara Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Atikaya Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Subhadra Kalyana Rama Bhatta 1716 Druva Charitre Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Rati Kalyana Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Kamsa Vadha Rama Bhatta 17th-18th centuryBilla Habba Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Draupadi Vastrapaharana Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Rajasuya Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Sulochana Charite Rama Bhatta 17th-18th centurySetu Madhava Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Sesha Garvapaharana Rama Bhatta 17th-18th centuryGirija Vilasa Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Indrajitu Kalaga Rama Bhatta 17th-18th century Kanakangi KalyanaKarantha (1997), p.171 Nityananda Avadhuta Not Known 17th century 1683 ParijataKarantha (1997), p.171 Subba Ajapura Brahmavara 18th century 1698-1715Rukmini Svayamvara Subba Ajapura 1698-1715Mairavana KalagaKarantha (1997), p.172 Venkata Ajapura Brahmavara 18th century 1726Manasa Charite Venkanna Mulki 18th century 1750Samudra Mathana Vasudeva Prabhu Mulki18th century 18th centuryChandrahasa-Billahabba Vasudeva Prabhu 1814Kamsa Vadhe Vasudeva Prabhu 18th centuryRadha Vilasa Vasudeva Prabhu 18th centuryRajasuyaKarantha (1997), p.173 Bhima Uttara Kannada 19th century19th century Prahalada charite Mayyavati VenkataMangalore 19th century 19th century Bhisma Parva Yennemadi Venkataramanayya Shirali 19th century 19th century Putrakamesti Gersoppe Santappayya Gersoppa 19th century 1850Karnarjuna Kalaga Gersoppe Santappayya 1850Ratnavati KalyanaKarantha (1997), pp.173-174 LakshminaranappaNandalike 19th century19th century Kumara Vijaya Lakshminaranappa 19th century Bhisma VijayaKarantha (1997), p.174 Narasimha SastryTirthahalli 20th century 20th century Vidyunmati Kalyana Narasimha Sastry 20th century

Notes

References