Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 20: Veteran Badagu Tittu Yakshagana artiste, Molahalli Heriya Naik (81) breathed his last on Monday January 19 after a brief illness, at Kasturba Medical Hospital Manipal. He is survived by wife, six sons, and three daughters.

Heriya, who had born as the son of Chikku Marakala and Muttu Marakalti at Molahalli in the taluk, left school when he was 15, and began training in Yakshagana under the tutelage of Yakshagana guide and guru, Narayanappa Uppoor.

He entered the field of Yakshagana as an artiste of Saukoor Mela before donning hundreds of roles during later years in Perdoor, Kota Amriteshwari, Mandarti, Maranakatte, Kollur, Halady, Saligrama etc. His service to the field of Yakshagana extended for 58 years. He was known for his finesse in Yakshagana steps and dialogue delivery,which came off really well in roles like Krishna, Vishnu, Thamradhwaja, Pushkala etc. He has also left behind some talented youngsters who were trained under him.

Heriya has won Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy award, Udupi district Rajyotsava award and over 500 felicitations and honours.

Local MLA, Halady Srinivas Shetty, MLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary, former MP, Jayaprakash Hegde, managers of several Melas and distinguished personalities have condoled his death.