Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Mangaluru, Mar 18: Active member of renowned Chethana Kalaranga of Koteshwar, versatile drama artiste Kumbashi Ramachandra (Benaka) Acharya died at his residence on Thursday due to brief illness.

Ramachandra was the son of Narayana Acharya and Sathyamma, residents of Kumbashi. He used to do centering and carpentry for a living. He was an active member of Chethana Kalaranga of Koteshwar and acted in several dramas and became very popular among the drama lovers.

Acharya gave memorable performances in dramas like Kuridoddi Kurukshethra, Chora Charanadasa, Bavi Kaledide and Benakana Kere directed by famous directors like Prabhakara Aithala, Vadiraja Tavala, Vasudeva Shettigar and Ganesh Aithal.

Ramachandra’s stellar performance in the drama Benaka, in which he goes into the body of another person was so popular that people started calling him Benaka Ramachandra.

Acharya donned the role of a drunkard in the teleserial Identha Kanthri Marayare, produced and directed by film director Koteshwara Sridhara Udupa. His fans remembers him swearing at the policeman in the teleserial saying that consuming liquor is called ‘Madhyapana’ as a person walks on the middle of the road after consuming alcohol. This dialogue became very popular line of his fans.

Benaka Acharya is survived by wife, son and daughter and scores of his fans.

President of Chethana Kalaranga Srinivasa Kundar, honorary president Markodu Gopalakrishna Shetty, secretary Ganesh Aithal, cultural secretary Suresh Jogi, B M Gururaja Rao and countless fans offered their last respects to departed Benaka Ramachandra Acharya at his residence. Another honorary president of the organization Neramballi Raghavendra Rao also expressed his condolences.