Karnataka Nataka Academy awarded 15 theatre personalities on Thursday at the award ceremony convened at Alva’s Education Foundation premises in Moodabidri.

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 was not present in person.

C G K Yuva Ranga Puraskara were awarded on Ramakrishna Belthoor, Rajesh Talakad, Siddaraju S S, Mohan Mattanavile, Suresh Angadi and Santhosh Gajanana Mahale. K Hirannaiah Puraskara was conferred on Prabhat artists while Gaurava Prashashti was given away to H Dundiraj.

Earlier, delivering the keynote address, Academy State President Srinivas G Kappanna 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 said that Karnataka state in general and this region in particular has gifted some of the best artists to the field of theatre and drama.

He said that hence this award programme must be the considered as the jubilation of the entire state.Kannada and Culture, Information and Tourism Department Secretary I M Vittalmurthy and Alva’s Education Foundation President Dr M Mohan Alva among others were present on the occasion.