Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 27: "Karnataka is the abode for various art forms. Yakshagana and other art forms connected with it have immensely contributed to the cultural richness of the state. It is our duty to recognize the contributions made by such artistes and honour them," opined Kannada and culture, and women and child welfare minister, Umashree.
She was speaking after giving away Parthi Subba awards from 2012 to 2014, and honorary awards of the Academy for the years 2013 and 2014, at a function organized at the open air theatre at Lord Gurunarasimha Temple in Saligrama in the taluk on the evening of Thursday February 26.
She said that the state government is committed to the conservation of art and culture, adding that the onus of passing over the sublime art forms of the land to the next generation lies on us.
Nadoja, Belali Veeranna, who is the president of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, presided over the function. Former MP, Jayaprakash Hegde, Saligrama town panchayat president, P Sadhu, member, Vasumathi, and critic, A Eshwaraiah, were present.
Yakshagana writer, Dr Shimanthur Narayana Shetty, M Ranganath Rao of Salake puppetry fame, and Yakshagana Arthadhari, G S Bhat Mysuru were honoured with Parthi Subba award. This award comprises cash component of one lac rupees, memento, and citation.
Yakshagana artistes, Malpe Vasudeva Samaga, Kappekere Subraya Bhagawath, critic, Prof S V Uday Kumar Shetty, artiste, Kokkadthi Krishnamurthy, Bantwal Jayaram Acharya, BM Nimbagallu Rudraiah, Narayana Kariganur, N Chennabasavaiah, Basavalingappa Gurubasappa Vibhuthe, and Eshwarachandra Bettagori were conferred with the Yakshagana Academy awards for 2013. Udyavara Jayakumar, M A Naik, Krishna Bhandary, Hanumappa Hosur, Satyakka, Sannapalaiah, Nellikere Thimmappachar, Mahadeva Avaradhi and Sanna Basanna received these awards for 2014.
Registrar of the academy, D R Maithili, welcomed. Member, Kabbinale Vasant Bharadwaj, delivered introductory address. Member convener of the academy, P Kishen Hegde, Chakkere Shivashankar, Dr Vijayanalini Ramesh, Basavaraj Shettigar, and others introduced the artistes picked for the honour.
The programme began with a Yakshagana dance by Saligrama Makkala Mela. Academy member,K M Shekhar, hosted the programme.