Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Aug 27: Veteran Yakshagana Bhagawat, Kadatoka Manjunath Bhagawath, who has been meritoriously serving the field of Yakshagana since the last some decades, was presented the third ‘Parti Subba’ award at a function held at Bajpe near here on Friday August 26. The award, comprising a lac of rupees in cash and a memento, was handed over to the talented Bhagawat by Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar.
The occasion was the valedictory function of a three-day study camp on ‘Devi Mahatme’ Yakshagana episode, where desirability of presenting this episode in its traditional format and many other aspects were discussed. The camp was organized by Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy.
“The time schedules of Yakshagana performances, which used to cover the entire night in the past, have been reduced to two to three hours. People have lost interest and patience to watch longer versions of Yakshgana performances. Therefore, there is a need to present such performance in a more integrated and complete manner with some improvements. The government will ensure that programmes aimed at enriching Yakshagana will not face funds crunch,” Palemar said, after handing over the award.
Kadatoka Manjunath Bhagawat, who has been ailing since long, had to be physically lifted in his chair to the dais, for being presented with the award. Kadatoka’s wife accompanied him. MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA, Abhay Chandra Jain, Kateel Temple chief priests, Lakshminarayana Asranna and Anantapadmanabha Asranna, and D Harshendra Kumar Dharmasthala too felicitated Bhagawat on the occasion.
Documentaries prepared on senior Yakshagana artistes, Chittani Ramachandra Hegde and Kumble Sundar Rao were released on the occasion.
Scholar, M Prabhakar Joshi, delivered the felicitation address. Academy president, Kumble Sundar Rao, registrar, M Muniraju, and others were present.
The Parti Subba Award was given to Amrit Someshwar in 2009. The award went to Hostota Manjunath Bhagawat in 2010.