Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Jan 10: Yakshaguru,Yaksha litterateur, director, Bhagavatha and able Yakshagana stage artiste Bhagavatha Prasad Kumar Mogebettu, who is in great demand in Badaguthittu, is awarded the prestigious award of Kalinga Navada.
Kalinga Navada Ranga Samman is award is given every year to young achievers in the field of Yakshagana. This award is given by Barathi theertha cultural trust and Kalinga prathistana under the care of Vijayashree Navada, wife of Late Kalinga Navada and Agneya Navada, son of late Kalinga Navada. The award ceremony will be held on January 10 at Makkimane of Shringeri.
Prasad Kumar Mogebettu is the only son of renowned Yakshagana artiste Heriya Naika Mogebettu and Gulabi Mogerti couple. He was born in 1983. Many use to come to his house to get trained from his father. So his father is his first teacher. He made his stage debut at the age of 10 as a child artiste in the Mogebettu Chikkamma Haiguli Yakshagana Kala Sangha under the direction of Hallady Subraya Mallya.
Prasad joined Udupi Yakshagana Kendra in 1998 and learnt dance from Nilavara Laxminarayanaiah and Bannanje Sanjeeva Suvarna. He was trained in Bhagavathike by Gorpady Vittal Patil for seven years.
Prasad has received more than 150 state level awards for his multi-talent. He received Skanda award at the Udupi district Rajyotsava award and appreciation by Kichha Sudeep on behalf of Manoor Maiyya Foundation. He has been conferred with titles like 'Dashavatari', 'Savyasachi', 'Yakshasahiratna', 'Yakshambara Martanda' and 'Kavi Kogile'.
Prasad has written the lyrics and formed songs for various Yakshagana plays like Amaramrita, Amritha Galige, Singara Pushpa, Shringara Kavya, Swapna Mantapa, Kolipade Ranga, Brahmakshara, Mahashakti Gadduge Amma, Kamanabillu, Nakshathra Nagini, Natyavalli, Vaddarse Vasundhare, Pavana Pakshi, Nagara Panchami, Prema Saranga, and Surya Sankranti.
Prasad Kumar Mogebettu is happily married to Sharavathi and has son Amogha and daughter Aradhya. He has been rightly given this award for his multi-faceted personality.