In Yakshagana, the male characters, such as the hero, the king, the minister and the prince have a grand crown or 'Makuta'. Wild characters like 'Dhiroddhatas' adorn an arch-like head dress. The facial make-up is made of vegetable dye, which for kings and princes is rosy pink, Yama is black, Lord Krishna and Vishnu is blue.

Till now this colourful attire and dazzling headgear could only be seen in a play, which is a rare sight nowadays. But now it can adorn every household, thanks to Sripadh Ganapathi Purohith's innovative method of making Yakshagana masks in papier mache. An artist of Banavasi, Sirsi taluk in North Karnataka, Sripadh is a traditional artist who has been sculpting Ganesha idols and tableau displays for various festivals. A long time ago, his grandfather had worked with Yakshagana artists as makeup and costume designer. But his father was disinclined to take up this art.

After Sripadh completed his Fine Arts degree from the University of Mysore, he went back to his hometown to take up his traditional occupation. "While working with paper mould for a design of a Yakshagana model for a festival, it struck me that this could be replicated. So I made clay models of the headgear of Yakshagana and cast it in cement moulds. On this mould, paper pieces were stuck with gum and pulled out when dry. The face and headgear were painted on this base and the ornaments added on it," says Sripadh Purohith.

Within weeks of exhibiting this prototype in a folk art exhibition, he was flooded with orders from Yakshagana enthusiasts from all over Karnataka. He mainly concentrates on heroic characters like Bheema, Arjuna, Krishna, and also villainous characters like Duryodhana, Ravana and Kumbhakarna.

Now he employs interested young boys and girls who learn this art while still continuing their education. The masks, made completely with household material like old newspapers, gum, glitter paper and dyes, are not only long lasting but also eco-friendly.

Similarly, there is another effort made faraway inKasaragod on the borders of Kerala where Adoor Sridhara Rao makes Yakshagana masks in wood. The masks are made of good quality rosewood and decorated with embellishments. The ornaments used are actual elements normally used in a headgear of Yakshagana.

Shridara Rao had been an artist for Yakshagana plays for many years and this idea has the fruit of years of toil. There has been an effort by him to sell these masks in exhibitions like the recently concluded Kalamadhyam folk art festival. But it is yet to be popular enough to produce on a mass scale.

Contact: Madhyam, 10th Cross, 10th Main,
Vasanthnagar, Bangalore- 560052
Phone: 2225 9766, 2228 1983

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