Sarojamma P Dhuttaragi (a theatre artist), who received the State award from the Governor on Thursday evening, could not carry on her celebrations for a long, as minutes after the presentation of the award, she received news of her husband’s death.

Though her husband, the owner of a drama company and theatre artist Pundaleeka Basavanagouda Dhuttaragi, died in the evening, she was informed only after she received the award, said her relatives.

No one in the auditorium was aware of the death as one of her relatives came to the stage and escorted her to the backstage before informing her about the death.

Dhuttargi dies
Pundaleeka Basavanagouda Dhuttaragi (78), a senior theatre person and director , died at Kerodi in Bagalkot on Thursday. He was hospitalised here a few weeks ago due to respiratory problems.

He had won Karnataka Nataka Academy award, Rajyotsava award and Gubbi Veeranna award. He had written 63 plays including Kalpana Prapancha, Sampattige Sawal, Sindhoora Laxman.

The final rites of the playwright will be carried out at his birthplace Soolebhavi on Saturday.