Mangalore: Devdas Kapikad Honoured with 'Tulunada Birse' Award
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, May 29: Tulu theatre and cine artiste Devdas Kapikad was honoured with the 'Tulunadda Birse' award at 'Chavadi Koota' held at the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy building here on Tuesday May 29.

Yakshagana artiste Thimmappa Gujaran was honoured with the 'Chavadi Thammana' on the occasion.

Acknowledging the recognition, Kapikad said that no artiste could ever be considered perfect, and that learning is a continuous process.

Thimmappa Gujaran said that Tulu culture should not be pushed to the corner by Tuluvas. "Tuluvas were uneducated in earlier decades. Yakshagana educated them and imbibed values of life in them," he said.

A discussion session followed on the topic 'Development for Tulu Yakshagana'.
 
Veteran Yakshagana artiste and former president of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy Kumble Sunder Rao said that in the days when television and other media have eroded the taste for art of the soil, and parents too are taking erroneous decisions by not taking their children to watch Yakshagana shows, only through which values of life could be inculcated in the younger generation. "In this busy modern life, making limit for Yakshagana shows will prove to be helpful," he suggested.
 
Another well-known and only Muslim interpreter in Talamaddale (sub sect of Yakshagana) Jabbar Samo said that instead of pouring money into other lavish programmes, the interested should help in reviving the art of Yakshagana. "There is a need for preparing the next generation to understanding the glory of the art. Yakshagana demands stringent dedication. The need of the hour is to build teams of young people to revive Tulu Yakshagana," he said.
 
Yakshagana litterateur Nithyananda Karanth Polali said that Yakshagana is a marvellous art form that enables one to understand one's inner soul. "However, 60 percent of the people in our own district do not watch it," he lamented, adding that shows with specific time limits and subsidy by the government are urgently required.
 
Senior Yakshagana artiste Kolyur Ramachandra Rao said that there was opposition to Tulu Yakshagana its initial days from people with stereotyped mindset. " But later there was a set of audience for Tulu Yakshagana too," he added.
 
Senior Yakshagana artistes Aruva Koragappa Shetty, Siddakatte Vishwanath Shetty, Tharanath Balyaya, among others were present.
 
Umanath Kotian, president of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy presided. On the occasion two research books titled Belakinedege and Tulunadina Apoorva Bhoothagalu authored by Dr Laxmi G Prasad were released by Dr Kamala Bhat.
 
Sathish Shetty Bondel led the prayer. Mohan Rai Karnur welcomed. Kadri Navneeth Shetty compered.