Shwetha Shrinivas’ Yakshagana workshop is unusual for many reasons. For one, it is traditionally performed by men. Second, despite the richness of its heritage, there is a long way to go in terms of preserving the ancient performance art and adapting it to contemporary times. The folk dance, practiced in Kasargod, marries music, costumes, dance styles, gestures, acting and extemporaneous dialogues and is a vibrant, living art form.
Growing up, Shwetha had her share of troubles but attended a regular school. In the seventh standard, she watched her younger sister in a play and listened, with awe and astonishment, to the thundering applause that followed. She decided at that moment that she would be an actor. “Today when I look back I guess it was a twist of fate, as that was the only time when my sister acted! She is a homemaker, now. And I am the person who has left everything for acting.”
Shwetha is a theatre artist and Indian classical dance practitioner, born and based in Bengaluru and has been doing theatre for 16 years and has won several State and National Awards. “I always thought that classical dance was only rich. As I grew up pursuing theatre, I started earning sufficient money to pay for classical dance classes and joined for two reasons, one being the love for Odissi dance, which according to me is one of the most beautiful forms of Indian classical dances and the second reason is that this opens up new dimensions to my theatre practices as an actor.”
She has trained at NINASAM, a renowned theatre school in Heggodu in Karnataka and says that the one thing she learnt from there is discipline. “NINASAM inculcates a strong passion for theatre and prepares us to become theatre professionals.”
She has won a national award for acting and costume design for the play 'Chithrapata' which has been a wonderful experience. “In fact these awards came as a surprise to me. I was not even nominated for them. But one thing is for sure is that I have put all my efforts in preparing for the role of Seetha and did a lot of research in designing the costumes for this play.”
An actor in both television and Kannada movies she has worked with directors like Yogaraj Bhat, Aasif Kshathriya, Prakashraj Mehu, Dinesh Babu and Jaytheertha among many others. “I always felt that a considerable part of the people from TV and film industry should become little more respectful and considerate towards actors, however there are definitely exceptions.” She was introduced to Yakshagana in NINASAM and says she was attracted to the art form being an energetic person by nature.
“This powerful folk art form requires lot of physical strength to perform. The other thing is that the colorful costumes and amazing makeup triggered the designer in me.” Her workshop will introduce the audience to this colorful art form and expose them to a lot of the technicalities. “This workshop, no doubt, will motivate them to learn Yakshagana in a professional way.” Inspired by people who are truthful, hardworking and wise she says that she does not plan for her future but rather prefers to follow with the time.
