Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Oct 31: A public meeting was organized on Friday October 30 at Mallikatte Srikrishna Kalyana Mantap in the city, under the aegis of Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Kalkura Foundation, to pay homage to reverred Yakshagana artiste, Keremane Mahabala Hegde, who left for heavenly abode on Thursday October 29.
Speaking on the occasion, Yakshagana scholar, Bandagadde Nagaraj, said that a true artiste lives the roles he dons, and that Yakshagana artistes like Sheni, Keremana Shambhu Hegde and Mahabala Hegde had this rare quality, and hence, even after death, their roles live on in our memories. He hailed Mahabala Hegde for always keeping cultural richness in mind and ensuring that he depicts the roles within the authentic framework of mythology.
Yakshagana artiste, G K Bhat Seraje, praised Hegde for not compromising with principles. He said that Hegde was a total package, having mastered every aspect of Yakshagana art.
Yakshagana scholar, Polali Nityanand Karant, termed Mahabala Hegde as the polar star of Yakshagana art. While terming his demise as a huge loss to Yakshagana, Polali said that memory of Hegde will linger in the minds of Yakshagana lovers as long as the art lives.
State Yakshagana Academy members Chandrashekhar Shetty, former Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, Harikrishna Punaroor, district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president, Pradeepkumar Kalkura, Janardan Hande, Sudhakar Pejawar etc., were present. Young artiste Sujayindra Hande rendered some of the Yakshagana songs pertaining to a few immemorable roles the late Mahabala Hegde had donned for about 20 minutes.
The dignitaries present showered flower petals on the portrait of the late Hegde on the occasion, to pay respects to the departed soul