Mangaluru: For decades, the lives of Yakshagana artistes have revolved around late-night performances, elaborate costumes, and rhythmic storytelling. Balancing this demanding traditional art form with higher education and modern career prospects has often been a struggle.Now, a unique academic initiative in Mangaluru is changing the narrative by bringing traditional artistes into the digital age without asking them to leave the stage. St Aloysius Deemed-to-be-University has launched a first-of-its-kind professional Master of Arts (MA) programme in Kannada.Uniquely tailored to accommodate performing arts professionals, the course is offered during morning hours. This flexible schedule allows Yakshagana artistes to attend classes until noon and seamlessly continue their stage performances and troupe commitments in the afternoons and evenings. The curriculum actively breaks away from conventional literature-heavy studies. Instead, it focuses on modern industry demands, training students in AI-prompt engineering, digital communication, OTT screen entertainment, scriptwriting, and translation.“This flexible MA programme unlocks diverse career paths across education, media, and tech. Additionally, its culturally rich curriculum and convenient timings uniquely empower theatre and Yakshagana artistes to seamlessly blend academic learning with their professional practice,” said Dr Dinesh Nayak, head of the Kannada department and associate dean, School of Languages and Cultural Studies.Besides help preserve the language, the two-year programme acts as a bridge to corporate jobs and new media. It features a practical approach, including a final six-month internship that artistes can complete while actively participating in their Yakshagana troupes.The syllabus is also structured to help students prepare for competitive civil service examinations like the IAS and KAS, offering Kannada as a specialised subject. By merging the rich heritage of Karnataka’s theatre with cutting-edge digital skills, this new degree ensures that local artistes no longer have to choose between their passion for the traditional stage and a secure, professional future in the modern workforce.
