Mangalore Akashvani senior announcer and artiste Kalkadi Ramananda Rai, popularly known as K R Rai, passed away here on Tuesday, after a brief period of ill-health. He was 55.
Mr Rai was known for his unique voice and presentation style, who had been serving in AIR for the past 30 years.
He joined AIR in 1978 and was promoted as senior announcer in 1990.
Rao was a pioneer in beginning Tulu news in Mangalore Akashvani, who became a familiar voice and most sought for artiste through his famous feature ‘Kenchana Kurlari’ in 1980s. He won national award for his Tulu documentary feature ‘Kaada Baduku’.
An amateur theatre artiste, Rai hailed from Kalkadi in Belthangady taluk. He had written a few books for State Tulu Sahitya Academy too.