Performed by the troupe Malla Sri Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Kala Mandali. Sivashakar (Sree Krishnan); Chaniyappa Nayar (Vijaya); Raghoraman (Kamsa); Narayanan Mooladkam (Shakattasuran); Jayarama Patali (Dhenukasuran); Balakrishna Gauda, Padmanabhan Kundam Kuzhi (gopikas); Jayaraman, Narayanan (Chanooramustikans); Gopalakrishna Nayak (Akkrooran); Padmananbhan, Balakrishna Gauda (ghosts). Vocals: Mahalingan Mallam. Musicians: Shivashankara Bhat Ambemoole (chenda); Appayyan Mallam (maddalam); Padnanabhan (sruthi). A foreign film (India).
Summary:
Performance of Kamsavadham (The killing of Kamsa) in the dance-opera form called Yakshagana, which originated on the coast of Karnataka, India, as a product of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement between the 11th and 16th centuries. The form combines dance, music, and dialogue, executed by performers in elaborate costumes and makeup. In the story depicted here, Kamsa, king of Madhura, plots to kill the young Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu), who is identified in a prophesy as his future killer. In a series of encounters, Krishna foils his would-be murderers and matches wits with a pair of gopikas (milkmaids), played by men.
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