Mangaluru: As Yakshagana troupes suspended their shows two weeks ago due to the coronavirus (covid-19) scare, the loss incurred by the troupes is estimated to be around Rs 8 to 10 crores!

It is a known fact that Yakshagana troupes have already stopped their performances till March 31 in accordance with the government order in this regard. According to sources, a total of 22 Yakshagana troupes are functioning in the coastal district and each day, they conduct about 30 to 40 shows.

If a person wants to organise a Yakshagana programme, he has to pay anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 to the Yakshagana troupe. Apart from that, organisers need to pay rent for the ground and take care of the artistes and the audience’s food expenses. Hence, an organiser needs to spend at least Rs 1 to Rs 3 lakh for a single Yakshagana programme. As Yakshagana artistes’ livelihoods depend solely on Yakshagana shows, they have incurred huge losses over the past two weeks.

Veteran Yakshagana Bhagavatha (playback singer) Patla Sathish Shetty informed that it was inevitable for Yakshagana troupes to stop organising programmes. However, artistes who are wholly dependent on Yakshagana have incurred huge losses.