Kannada Arts: Yakshagana, Dasa Sahitya and Cinema
An introduction to Karnataka's performing arts, from Yakshagana theatre and devotional music to Kannada cinema, with the vocabulary of each.
Language and art are closely linked. Learning a few arts terms opens the door to songs, plays and films in Kannada.
Yakshagana
ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ (yakṣagāna) is a traditional theatre form of coastal Karnataka, combining dance, music, dialogue and elaborate costume. Performers act out stories from the epics and Puranas, accompanied by live music, and the dialogue is spoken in vivid Kannada.
Dasa Sahitya
ದಾಸ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ (dāsa sāhitya) is the tradition of devotional songs composed by the ದಾಸರು (dasas, "servants" of God) in simple Kannada. ಪುರಂದರ ದಾಸ (Purandara Dasa), of the sixteenth century, is honoured as a foundational figure of Carnatic music.
Music
Karnataka is home to both ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಂಗೀತ (Carnatic music) and Hindustani music. Folk songs, called ಜಾನಪದ ಗೀತೆಗಳು (janapada geetegalu), are also loved.
Cinema
Kannada cinema is sometimes called ಸ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್ವುಡ್ (Sandalwood). Films in Kannada have been made since the 1930s, and the industry is centred in Bengaluru. ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ (Dr. Rajkumar) is remembered as one of its greatest actors.
Arts vocabulary
| Kannada | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ಕಲೆ | art |
| ಸಂಗೀತ | music |
| ಹಾಡು | song |
| ನೃತ್ಯ | dance |
| ನಾಟಕ | play, drama |
| ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ / ಸಿನಿಮಾ | film |
| ನಟ / ನಟಿ | actor / actress |
| ಗಾಯಕ / ಗಾಯಕಿ | singer (m. / f.) |
Useful sentences
- ನನಗೆ ಸಂಗೀತ ಇಷ್ಟ. — I like music.
- ಈ ಹಾಡು ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ. — This song is very good.
- ಇದು ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರವೇ? — Is this a Kannada film?
Learning through the arts
- Listen to songs with lyrics.
- Watch films with subtitles, then without.
- Read about the arts in Kannada newspapers.
Tips
- Learn the basic arts words.
- Listen to Kannada songs.
- Use the dictionary to look up lyrics.
English Kannada Dictionary
Offline English–Kannada dictionary with meanings in proper Kannada script
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