Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Apr 11: Well-known yakshagana and humour artiste Peruvodi Narayana Bhat has been selected for the prestigious Patala Award given by Shree Patala Yaksha Foundation of Yedaneeru. The award will be conferred at a function to be held in Shree Krishna Rangamantapa at Yedaneeru on Sunday April 15.

Shree Keshavananda Bharati Swamiji of Shree Yedaneeru Kshetra will present the award while Mangalore University vice-chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa will preside over the award presentation ceremony.

This was announced in a press conference by award committee president Harikrishna Punaroor here on Tuesday April 10.

Peruvodi Narayan Bhat has been a stalwart in yakshagana for the last 47 years.  He mad his baptism to yakshagana through the then famous Kundavu troupe.  Thereafter he has been a regular artiste in various troupes such as Dharmasthala, Kudlu, Mulki Nandavar, Kadri, Amriteshwar troupe of Badagu, Bappandu troupe etc.

He has been recognized as an ace humour artiste and has earned the name 'Raja Hasya' (King of Humour).  Along with his role 'Papanna Bhatru' has almost become his second name.

Over the years he has been conferred with Sheni Datti Award, Udupi Kalaranga Award, Kuriya Award, Kargallu Subbanna Bhat award etc.  His biography "Hasyagarana Antaranga” written by Na Peraje has been published by Puttur Karnataka Sangha.