Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network—Managalore (SI/CN)

Mangalore, Dec 7: The Academy of Thenku Thittu Yakshagana (ATTY), New Delhi, conferred the ‘Yakshagana Kala Nidhi’ award for 2011 on Balipa Narayan Bhagawat, well-known veteran Yakshagana artiste from coastal Karnataka, at an event held at Town Hall on Tuesday December 6.

M L Samaga, chairperson, Yakshagana Academy, inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp and observed that Yakshagana is an educational medium and ‘Thenku Thittu Yakshagana’ is a sub form of it.

“Recently, a discussion was raised about which is not a classical form. Now, I’m not ready to clarify it,” he added. He said that before Balipa, K Shivaram Karanth was represented as a great figure from the coastal region. Samaga appealed that Yakshagana not lose its original sublimity due to the effect and affects of westernization, globalization, and modernization.

Shaladi Ajithkumar Hegde was the chief guest and in his speech said that eminent artiste Balipa had faced insults suspicions, and felicitations in his artistic career. He is considered as the one of the senior artists and coined the Ganesh rhythm in Yakshagana form, performing it during the beginning of the art.

Krishna Bhat, chairperson, ATTY, New Delhi, conferred the award on Balip and felicitated him.

Prasadkumar Shetty was present on the dais. Vasudev Ranga Bhatt compered and delivered the vote of thanks.

Before the conferring ceremony, a special documentary which featured the performances of Balipa was telecast on screen for half an hour. Yakshagana female artiste Vidya Kolyuru performed ‘Draupadi’s dialogue’ and entertained the audience.