Keremane Shambhu Hegade award conferred on Kunjalu

Yakshagana Academy promotes other art forms related to Yakshagana

He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Keremane Shambhu Hegade Award’ distribution programme organised by the Keremane Shambhu Hegade Samsmarana Samiti in association with Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy and Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali at Don Bosco Hall here on Sunday. Rao said that earlier Yakshagana was popular only in few districts including Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The initiatives taken by the Academy under former Chairman Keremane Shambhu Hegade made Yakshagana popular in other districts too, he added.

The functioning of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy is not limited to promoting Yakshagana alone. The Academy also has the responsibility of promoting all other art forms related to Yakshagana, Rao said adding that it is a herculean task.  Recalling Keremane Shambhu Hegade’s achievements, Rao said that the death of such a great artiste has not only saddened the Yakshagana lovers, but also made the entire Yakshagana field mournful. “A Yakshagana artist should have expertise in all areas including acting, dancing, singing and expressions. Moreover, he should have thorough knowledge on history and mythology. Keremane Shambhu Hegade was a complete Yakshagana artiste who possessed all such knowledge,” he added.

Award

The Keremane Shambhu Hegade Award was conferred on veteran Yakshagana artiste Kunjalu Ramakrishna Nayak. Meanwhile, ‘Kalpada Kalavida,’ a book on Keremane Shambu Hegade edited by H Sadananda Hegade, was released by State Bank of India Assistant General Manager C M Tallur on the occasion.  Former Karnataka Sahitya Academy President Harikrishna Punarooru presided. District KSP  President Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali Director Shivananda Hegade Keremane and Samsmarana Samiti President G K Bhat Seraje were present.