Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 3: "If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it," said American artiste Wanda Sykes.

The quote is apt for V N Ashok Boloor.

An auto rickshaw driver by profession, the 55-year-old has keen interest in traditional theatre art form of Yakshagana. Fondly called as 'Yakshagana Uncle' by budding Yakshagana artistes, Ashok's passion for the art is on full display when he trains them.

The talent in Ashok triggered in school when he played the lead role of 'Bhaktha Prahlada'. He had to discontinue studies after completing his SSLC, but never gave up performing Yakshagana. Ashok was influenced by his father Narnappa Karkera who was an ardent Yakshagana enthusiast. The presence of Yakshagana clubs close to his house helped his cause. His frequent visits to the clubs finally bore fruit when he was approached to perform a role.

Ashok was trained in his early days by Mundappa Kummanje and Mohan Bangera, while Mandara Keshave Bhat tutored him in Yakshagaana Bhagavatha. Well-known bhagavatha artiste Patla Mahabala Shetty gave him advance training in Yakshagana Bhagavatha. Ashok learnt Maddale from veteran artiste Kasargod Parameshwar Achar. A versatile Ashok can perfom both Mummela (dance and art) and Himmela (background music).

Ashok now trains young and budding Yakshagana artistes at three schools in the city. He has directed several Yakshagana performances across Mangaluru alongside writing Yakshagana prasangas for school programmes like 'Prathyakshe Mruthyu', 'Mailara Lingeshwara Mahathme', 'Cauvery Mahthme', 'Dharma Jyothi' and many more. As many as 10,000 students have trained under the tutelage of Ashok. His goal of pursuing Bhagavathike has made him an outstanding performer of Yakshagana.

In a candid chat with Daijiworld.com, Ashok said, "I was running a garage after I discontinued my studies due to financial issues. I gave my first performance as a Yakshagana artiste in 1978. I had no support from my family. I have been running an auto rickshaw and conducting Yakshagana classes from the past 12 years. It is 20 years since I started training young Yakshagana artistes and has been a satisfying experience. I am conducting Yakshagana classes at Omkareshwar Ujjodi, Panchalingeshwara Temple and Mahila Mandala of Balmatta College for over 150 students. I start the classes at 6 pm where kids as young as five years and people as old as 65 come to learn the art. It is a challenge for me when I impart my knowledge and skills of Yakshagana to a fresher".

Ashok also revealed how he had served as a Yakshagana guru at Bokkapatna school for 15 years where the strength of students gradually came down as the prices of Yakshagana costumes were hiked. "Numerous Yakshagana shows were performed under my direction at Urwa Marigudi and Chilimbi. I was conducting classes at Sri Narayana Guru training centre in Urwa Store, Siddakatte, Yedapadav, Mannagudda, Besant and also at Bendur," says Ashok.

"Bitter, unhappy people try to drag me down as they speak about Yakshagana, but I love what I do. Yakshagana has its own style and there are thousands of them who still love and follow the art. I am very pleased to see schools taking up the initiative of promoting the art and training students in Yakshagana. Surprisingly, there are more number of English medium students taking up training nowadays." he concludes.

Ashok is happily married to Rekha and has two children Suprabha and Vignesh. Pursuing his PUC, Vignesh is following the footsteps of his father and is already an excellent performer of Yakshagana.