Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, July 20: Renowned Thenkuthittu Yakshagana artiste and veteran bannada vesha (colourful character) performer Siddakatte Sadashiva Shettigar (60) passed away on Sunday, July 20, at a hospital in Mangaluru following illness.

A resident of Manchakallu in Sangabettu village near Punjalakatte, he was a senior artiste of the Hanumagiri Yakshagana troupe. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

Sadashiva Shettigar, who was associated with the Hanumagiri Mela until recently, had a career spanning over three decades in Yakshagana. He received his training in performance and acting from eminent Yakshagana gurus Renjala Ramakrishna Rao and Bannada Mahalinga.

Over the course of his 36-year-long journey, he performed in renowned Melas such as Kateel, Dharmasthala, Hosanagar, Edaneeru, and Hanumagiri. Just a few months ago, he completed his final tour with the Hanumagiri troupe and announced his retirement.

Despite battling health issues for some time, Shettigar was recently honoured with the Yakshamangala Award by the Dr P Dayananda Pai and P Satish Pai Yakshagana Study Centre at Mangalore University. He had also received the Shreerama Vittala Award on the occasion of Pejawar Swamiji’s birthday, the Kateel Gopalakrishna Asranna Award, the Keelaru Gopalakrishnayya Award, and the Arasankala Award, among others.

His portrayal of the demon Mahishasura was particularly well appreciated among Yakshagana audiences.