Udupi : Dr. Satheesha Nayak Alambi and family creates history by performing a unique yakshagana ballet “Veeramani Kalaga” at Shivaprabha, Yakshagana Kendra, Indrali Udupi on November 9, 2024. The program was unique because ten members of one family (3 generations) performed together on stage. The eldest member of the team was Lakshmi Vittala Nayak who is 82 years old. The youngest member of the team is 12 years old. The team was dominated by six female members.

Dr. Satheesha Nayak’s father, Late Vittala Nayak was a Yakshagana artist. Though all family members had interest in learning yakshagana, many of them didn’t get an opportunity due to various reasons. Dr. Nayak had a long-standing dream to train the members and perform on stage together. To make the process difficult, two members of the team were located at Bangalore and the rest of them at Alambi, a small village in the Udupi district of Karnataka state. The basic steps were taught online mode and the team gathered twice in the last few months to finalize the dance and dialogues. This performance was fully supported by the management and teachers of yakshagana kendra, who fine-tuned the steps and dance moves.

The show was witnessed and appreciated by a huge crowd. The family is now getting invitations from friends to perform at various places. Dr. Satheesha Nayak and his wife Dr. Soumya K.V. are employees of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Manipal. Dr. Nayak is of the opinion that involving the full family in a performance is adventurous and full of fun. He hopes that more families will come forward to put forth this type of show in the future.