Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jan 24: Well-known Yakshagana artiste Peruvayi Narayana Shetty (82) known as 'Yaksharangada Raja' passed away. He had excelled in Kannada and Tulu plays and had left a stamp in the plays of Tenkuthitta and was also known for meaningful talk and dialogues.

He was the son of Peruvayi, Bantwal residents Madanappa Shetty and Abbakka and had indulged in Yakshagana field at the young age of 12. He had travelled to participate in melas held at Madavu, Dharmastala, Polali Rajarajeshwari mela, Kadri, Kumble, Kuntaru, Kateel and other melas. He had travelled for about 52 years to stage Yakshagana plays. He later retired from the stage due to a illness.

He was the artiste of Kateel mela and had enacted effectively the parts of Raktabeeja, Hiranyakashyapu, Kamsa, Sundararavana, Rutuparna, Hanumantha, Jabali, Arunasura, Hiranyaksha, Shishupala and had became famous. He introduced new costumes for Koti in the Koti Chennaya part.

His roles in Tulu plays such as Koti Devupoonja etc were famous. He was conferred the Yakshadhruva award in 2016 and had also won several other awards and felicitations.