JOIN USRs 1 lakh cash award to yakshagana artiste: Acharya
Speaking after conferring Yaksha Kalanidhi awards on renowned Yakshagana artistes Malpe Ramadasa Samaga and Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, instituted by Academy of Thenku Thittu Yakshagana (ATTY) at Town Hall here on Sunday, he said the Chief Minister has already given his nod for constituting the award.
Dr Acharya said the government would also honour 10 selected Yakshagana artistes every year with Rs 10,000 cash each. The award was being given to three artistes till now with Rs 3,000 cash.
Terming Yakshagana a rich art, a rare blend of music, dance, speech, costume, colour and vibrance, he said the State government would provide all possible support for preserving and promoting the genre.
He said the government would soon ask the Kannada and Culture Department to initiate the project of video and audio documentation of Yakshagana. He said the present government has earmarked Rs 180 crore for promoting art and literature under the Kannada and Culture Department.
Karnataka Yakshagana Academy President Kumble Sundar Rao who inaugurated Rashtreeya Thenkana Yakshotsava-2009 of Yaksha Manjusha, said Yakshagana troupes should do ‘seemollanghana’, that is, they should cross the borders. “Instead of performing in 3-4 districts of the coastal belt, they should tour all over Karnataka. Yakshagana should not be termed as an art of coastal Karnataka. It has all qualities of reaching international audience,” he observed.
Yaksha Kalanidhi awards were conferred on renowned Yakshagana artistes Malpe Ramadasa Samaga and Kolyur Ramachandra Rao. A sum of Rs 12,000 was presented to both along with the award.
Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa presided. ATTY Directors Vidya Kolyur and Saravu Krishna Bhat were present. Yaksha Manjusha staged ‘Sri Krishna Parijata-Narakasura Moksha’ Yakshagana later.