Mangalore: 'Samaga Award' for Balipa Narayana Bhagavata
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Jul 28: In memory of Yakshagana legend the late Malpe Shankarnarayan Samaga, ‘Samaga Award’ will be conferred on Balipa Narayan Bhagavata at a programme in Don Bosco Hall here on Wednesday August 1.
 
Informing this at press meet here on Saturday July 28, Pradip Kumar Kalkura, founder president of Kalkura Pratishtana said that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel will hand over the award to Balipa Bhagavata.

Balipa Narayana Bhagavata and Malpe Shankarnarayan Samaga

Yakshagana Bayalata Academy president Prof M L Samaga, former president Kumble Sunder Rao, Yakshagana scholar Dr M Prabhakar Joshi, senior artistes Surikumeru Govind Bhat, Dr Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, Nellikatte Narayana Hasyagara among others will be present.

There will be ‘Paramparika Yakshagana’ on the same day at 4 pm wherein some of the extinct practices in Yakshagana like ‘hogalike hasya’, 'kattu hasya' and 'krishnana oddolaga' will be performed, which could be documented by anybody interested for the benefit of future generations for their understanding of the rich art, Kalkura said.

At 6.30 pm 'Hidimba Vivaha - Garuda Garva Bhanga Yakshagana' show will be performed, which will go on till 9.30 pm.

Kadri Navaneeth Shetty, G K Bhat Seraje and Janardhan Hande were present.

About Balipa Narayana Bhagavata

Hailing from Padre village of Kasargod, Balipa Narayana is a 'Bhagavata' in Yakshagana art. He attained excellence in the through his grand father Balipa Narayana Bhagavata and father Balipa Madhava Bhatta. He has performed ‘bhagavathige’ in Padre, Kudlu, Ira, Kateel troupes and written more than 30 prasangas. Traditional theatre experience and unique style of singing have won him a large number of fans. He has sung for four generation of artistes. He has been a resource person in many seminars and research studies. He is the recipient of Rajyotsava Award, Karanth Award and Alva's Award, among others.