20 Yakshagana artistes to be feted with awards

The Karnataka Bayalata Academy has announced the honorary awards for 20 yakshagana artistes for the year 2011-12 and 2012-13 .

Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Yakshagana Bayalata Academy President Prof M L Samaga said that each awardee will get a cash prize of Rs10,000 and a citation.

Stating that the Yakshagana is an unorganised sector when it comes to academic thinking, he  said that plans have been chalked out to introduce common teaching method in Yakshagana, wherein the teachers will be specially trained.

A three-day workshop will be held on ‘Yakshagana Veerarasa’ in Dharmasthala soon. The academy has taken measures to promote various facets of Yakshagana that is played in North Karnataka.

A repertory will be set up in the northern districts of the state to promote the art. The Academy has organised workshops and seminars to inculcate academic thinking in Yakshagana, he added.

Award winners

The artistes chosen for the year 2011-12 are Uppinakudru Vamana Shenoy (Yakshagana Gombeyata), Kudana Goplakrishna Bhat, Peruvayee Narayana Shetty, Pethri Madhav Nayak, Halladache Venktramanayya Mudigere all for Yakshagana,  Basavannayya Matapathy (Sri Krishna Parijatha), Adivayya S Heeremutt (Doddata),  Ramachandrappa Arkasali (Mudalapaya), Dr Ramanand Banari (Talamaddale) and Devakana Krishna Bhat (Prasadhana).

2012-13 winners are Idugunjee Krishnayaji, K H Dasappa Rai, Padyana Shankarnarayana Bhat,  Dayananda Nagoor all for Yakshagana, Holabasayya Sambalad (Sri Krishna Parijatha), Eramalappa Madhugiri (Mudalapaya), Mookambika Varamballi (Women Yakshagana), Vishwanath Harsikatta (Prasadhana) and Sri Laxmijanardhana Yakshagana Kalamandali, Ambalpadi (organisation).