Mangalore: Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha Gets 'Samaga Award'
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Aug 2: 'Samaga Award', instituted in memory of Yakshagana artiste the late Malpe Shankaranarayana Samaga was conferred on living legend of Yakshagana Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha at a programme held at Don Bosco Hall here on Wednesday August 1.
 
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel after prsenting the award said that the late Malpe Shankaranarayana Samaga’s interpretation of his roles in Yakshagana prasangas was very wise and that Balipa Bhagavatha is highly respected by everyone for his traditional singing style.

He regretted that though the region is known for its rich traditional arts like Yakshagana, nowadays it is in the news for all the wrong reasons. "I hopeful that traditional values of the land will soon overcome all the sad developments," he said.
 
Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy president Prof M L Samaga said that Malpe Shankaranarayana Samaga (popularly known as Dodda Samaga) was the first to observe that there are aspects for study in Yakshagana art. "He had always respected the culture of labour, and had a rustic innocence in his character," he said.

About award winner Balipa Bhagavatha, he said that he is a Bhagavatha with values and a rich character. On the art of Yakshagana, he said that it should be enriched at the national level as the art is a school of intellectual thoughts.
 
Pradeep Kumar Kalkura of Kalkura Prathistana, G K Bhat Seraje, Senior Yakshagana artistes Dr Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, Soori Kumeru Govinda Bhat, Nellikatte Narayana Hasyagara, Jayaram Hande of Karnataka Bank among others were present.