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Arts & Communication Tech revitalization of Yakshagana artifacts

art forms also serve as highly effective mediums of the integration of art as a cohesive performance, and paved
entertainment, communication, and education. The the way for future scientific inquiries into the extended
previous research has indicated that engagement with performances of traditional Indian art forms.
performing arts offers significant physical and mental In Yakshagana performances, the songs are performed
health benefits to both practitioners and viewers. For by the Bhagavata, a member of the background music team
example, art therapy utilizes various artistic approaches (himmela). This collective group of musicians consists of
for therapeutic purposes. n addition, learning and the Bhagavata, a maddale player, and a chande player. The
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performing art forms represent valuable extracurricular Bhagavata’s singing is synchronized with the shruti svara
activities for youth, fostering their holistic development. (a pitch set using a tuning box or harmonium), ensuring
Traditional art forms, further, contribute to the festive harmony with the maddale and chande players. In this
spirit at various celebrations such as festivals, weddings, regard, as the Bhagavata raises the pitch (shruti) at regular
and other communal gatherings. Among diverse dance intervals during the performance, the maddale and chande
forms, Yakshagana stands out as a distinctive dance- are tuned to meet the pitch. The coordination among these
drama form originating from Karnataka, a southern state musicians is crucial, and any disharmony or off-pitch beats
of India. Specifically, Yakshagana encompasses unique can affect the Bhagavatam’s tone.
elements, including music, dance, costume, vocal styles,
and theatrical presentation. 1 In scientific studies, researchers have analyzed the vocal
characteristics of Yakshagana singers, comparing them
Overall, two distinctive styles of Yakshagana are with non-singers of similar age. In addition, investigations
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prevalent: Badaguthittu, or the northern style of the Uttara into vocal health have been conducted among Yakshagana
Kannada and Udupi districts (Figure 1A), and Thenkuthittu, singers, contrasting those who have reported voice issues
or the southern style of the Dakshina Kannada district to those without such problems. These studies have shed
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(Figure 1B). Despite numerous similarities between these light on the physiological aspects of Yakshagana singing
two forms, the instruments, vocal styles, and dance patterns and its impact on vocal well-being.
are significantly distinct. However, all the aspects of the
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theater are present in both. In the 1960s, Indian polymath Meanwhile, music and musical instruments are integral
Dr. Shivarama Karanth’s pioneering research contributions parts of any performing art form. However, among the
on Yakshagana made this art form gain renown within limited technical research on the musical instruments in
India and abroad. His work also contributed to several traditional Indian art forms, two studies have focused on
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widely held beliefs about Yakshagana and its development. the mridangam, an important percussion instrument in
Since then, many scholars have documented the values and the Indian musical family. In one study, a new membrane
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traditions of this art form. 4,5 model based on extensive measurements was developed.
In this case, the pseudo-spectral and finite element
A notable scientific and engineering-based exploration methods were employed to solve a vibration problem. In
of Yakshagana was undertaken by Gopalkrishna Hegde a different study, an analytical model was created for the
and Gautam Hegde, who delved into its mathematical wooden shell of the mridangam, with a smaller centrally
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parameters to understand its performance execution loaded membrane in the right and a larger membrane on
and artistic potential. Specifically, they developed the left. Natural frequencies and mode shapes were also
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empirical mathematical models to estimate performance calculated and validated using a 3D finite element model.
indices and quality. In addition, their research focused Moderate changes to the instrument’s geometry resulted in
on the synchronization of the primary components of a slight shift for the first mode and essentially no noticeable
Yakshagana for high-quality presentations, underscoring change in the higher modes. However, the cavity response
to boundary excitations for various forms indicated a
A B potential impact on vibroacoustic performance.
As for other Indian musical instruments, one study
used physics-based simulations of the sound generated by
mallet percussion instruments in the time domain through
a 3D-coupled vibroacoustic model using the finite element
method. Another study considered material replacement
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and conducted acoustic testing for creating an Indian
bamboo flute for commercial production. In this case,
Figure 1. Two distinctive styles of Yakshagana: (A) Badaguthittu polyvinyl chloride was chosen as an alternate material,
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(the northern style) and (B) Thenkuthittu (the southern style) since it can provide high returns at low input cost. In

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 2 doi: 10.36922/ac.3052