Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (NR)
Moodbidri, Oct 20: Karnataka Nataka Academy (KNA) award presentation ceremony under the aegis of ‘Ranga Sammana’ was held at at Alva’s Education Foundation premises in Moodabidri, here on Thursday October 18. This is a novel type of academy awards, with the ceremony devoid of long speeches, long list of high flown dignitaries nor any elaborate ceremony.
On the occasion secretary, Deparments of Kannada Culture, Information and Tourism I M Vithalmurthy conferred the Academy awards on 15 artists who have excelled in the field of theatre. The awardees are as follows: Devendra Reddy Nandipura, Dodda Ankachar, D K Shinde, Lingaiah Veerabhadraiah Kulkarni, K B Shankar, P S Rao, K Rangaswamy, G Seetharama Shetty Kuradi, Mahanthesha Gajendragada, Narayana Bhimsenrao Kulkarni, Mico Chandru, Shrimathi Hariprasad, Anita Kariappa, K Anandaraju and S N Deshpande. However, Dodda Ankachar could not be present in person.
C G K Yuva Ranga Puraskara was conferred on 6 persons on the occasion namely to Ramakrishna Belthoor, Rajesh Talakad, Siddaraju S S, Mohan Mattanavile, Suresh Angadi and Santhosh Gajanana Mahale.
H Dundiraj, humourist was awarded the Gourava Prashashti (Academy Honorary award), whereas K Hiranayya Prashasti was conferred on Prabhat Kalavidaru, a drama troupe.
Academy state president Srinivas G Kappanna, in the beginning delivering the keynote address, said that the academy has not conferred the awards on recommendation but it has voluntarily hand-picked each and every awardee.
Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy president Keremane Shambu Hegde declared that Karnataka state in general and this region in particular has gifted some of the best artists to the field of theatre and drama. And therefore according to him this award programme must be the considered as a jubilation of the entire state.
Senior cine actresses M N Lakshmidevi, Mynavathi and Alva’s Education Foundation president Dr M Mohan Alva among others were present on the occasion.
B Jayashri and Spandana troupe, H Janardana and Janamana troupe presented theatre songs after the event.
102 Artistes feted with Suvarna Karnataka Gourava Puraskara
Karnataka Nataka Academy (KNA) felicitated a total of 102 theatre personalities and organizations with Suvarna Karnataka Gourava Puraskara award for the year 2006 on the second day of the function held under the aegis of ‘Ranga Sammana’ at a gala event held at Alvas Education Foundation premises in Moodabidri on Friday, 19 Oct.
Srinivas.G Kappanna, academy president presided over the function whereas film producer T S Nagabharana, Alva’s Education Foundation chairman Dr M Mohan Alva, MLA Abhayachandra Jain among others were present.
Litterateur and MLC Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara presented the awards. The awards were given under various categories:
Gourava Puraskara
The award winners included 3 Kannadigas residing outside the country, 7 persons residing outside the State, 3 theatre critics, 3 journals related to theatre, and 87 other achievers residing inside Karnataka. The award carried a Natraj Idol, shawl, a certificate and a memento.
Ranga Geethe by artist B Jayashree’s Spandana troupe and singer Janni and his folk troupe also joined in the celebration during the awards presentation. The function was followed by performance of dramatic roles by various theatre personalities, selected from different well-known Kannada plays.
Ranga Bhoomi Jathre
In February 2008, for celebrating the 60th year of Indian independence, the Academy is contemplating on organizing one ‘Ranga bhoomi jathre’ or ‘Ranga bhoomi santhe’ (theatre fair) comprising about 60 programmes, in Moodabidri., was the information conveyed by Kappanna earlier.