People pay last respects to yakshagana artiste

The body of late Veteran Yakshagana artiste Chittani Ramchandra Hegde, who passed away at KMC Hospital in Mangaluru on Tuesday night, was brought to Honnavar on Wednesday afternoon.

The Taluk Administration had made arrangements to enable the public to pay last respect to late veteran artiste at Police Parade Ground in town. Yakshagana artists, namely, Krishna Yaji Balkuru, Shankar Hegde Nilkod, Subramanya Hegde Yalaguppa, Tahsildar V R Gowda, BJP Leader Dinakar Shetty, R S Raykar, Nagraj Torke, Dr Shreepad Shetty, Suraj Naik Soni, Raju Bhandari and others paid last respect to Chittani.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, many people shared their opinions about Chittani Ramachandra Hegde and said there may be very fewer people who have learnt yakshagana from Chittani. However, many people inspired by his stage performance.

Later, the mortal remains were taken to his native at Guddikeri near Allanki in the taluk. Kavalakki’s yakshagana artists, namely, Ganpati Hegde Toti, Jalavalli Vidyadhar, businessman Venkatraman Hegde and others submitted a floral tribute, to pay last respect.

The body was kept for the public, to pay last respect at Rangamandir in Gunavante, which has been named after yakshagana artiste Keremane Shivram Hegde.

Balkuru Krishna Yaji said, “ I had inspired from the performance of Chittani. He was the role model for those who want to learn yakshagana. Chittani was a hard worker. All the styles of yakshagana, which were performed by Chittani, had attracted many people, he added.

Another artiste Yalaguppe Subramanya Hegde remebered Chittani and stated that Chittani’s efforts to popularise the yakshagana art are beyond the description.