Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Aug 5: Karnataka Nataka Academy announced on Monday August 3, its annual awards to the personalities whose contributions to the field of Kannada theatre have been significant, for the year 2008.
They are Tippa Naika (Chitradurga), P Venkataramaiah (Mandya), K V Srinivas Prabhu(Bangalore), Bharati Shirahatti (Gadag), Kantesh Kadaramandalagi (Shimoga), Aravind Patil (Belgaum), Basavaraj Hosamani (Bijapur), Mohan Sona (Sullia, DK), Kannarpadi Ramakrishna (Bangalore), Ramanand Hirejewargi (Gulbarga), I K Boluvaru (Puttur, DK), K H Panchaksharappa (Davangere), Manjunath Hegde (Shimoga) and Enagi Nataraj (Dharwad) and Indiramma (Mysore).
The award for the best book has gone to the work, 'Jeevana Rangadhare' authored by Virupaksha Nayaka. Fakirappa Varavi from Bagalkot, who has immensely contributed to the field of comic plays, has been chosen for the prestigious 'Hirannaiah Award' that carries citation and Rs 5,000 in cash.
Veteran artiste, scholar, critic and dramatist B K Keshava Rao, who has given a new dimension to the theatre with his unique skills, has been chosen for the honorary award. The honorary award carries Rs 10,000 in cash apart from citation, while the annual award carries Rs 5,000 in cash.
Giving these details at a press conference held here on Monday, Academy president Dr B V Rajaram said that the Academy was faced with the task of selecting 15 persons from over 200 applications and nominations received for the award. The awards would be handed over by state Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa at a function to be held at Shimoga Kuvempu theatre on August 16, he added. Rajaram also explained that the government has been requested to enhance the cash reward for lifetime achievement from Rs 10,000 to 25,000 and for other awards, from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
Apart from the Chief Minister, Shimoga district in-charge minister Eshwarappa, cine actress Jayanti and Master Hirannaiah are expected to grace the valedictory ceremony, he said.