P Dayananda Pai and P Satish Pai Yakshagana Adhyayana Kendra at Mangalore University has chosen well-known Yakshagana artistes Kumble Sundar Rao and Gode Narayana Hegde for its Yakshamangala award 2018-19.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a citation and a memento, Mangalore University Registrar Prof A M Khan and Kendra coordinator Dr Dhananjay Kumble said. 

The Yakshamangala book award will be given to ‘Yakshagana Angopaanga Samatholana Vichara’ by Prof G S Bhat Sagar. The book award carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, citation and memento.

A committee comprising M L Samaga, Dr Chandrashekar Damle, Bottekere Purushotham Poonja and Dr Dhananjay Kumble had shortlisted the achievers for the award.

The award will be conferred at the university’s Mangala Auditorium on March 15  at 2.30 pm. Mangalore University in-charge Vice-Chancellor Prof Kishori Nayak will preside over the function.

About awardees

Kumble Sundar Rao, is a senior Thenkuthittu Yakshagana artiste and also a talamaddale artiste. He was attracted to Yakshagana from his childhood and had teamed with artistes like Sheni, Samaga in Arthagarike in Yakshagana.

He had served in Koodlu, Ira, Surathkal, and Dharmasthala Yakshagana melas and was known for infusing life in mythological characters like Bharatha, Karna, Bheeshma, Dushyantha, Sanjaya, Pareekshitha in Yakshagana.

He had also served as the President of Yakshagana Bayalata Academy and had won Karnataka Rajyoytsava award, Kerala Kala Mandala award.

Gode Narayana Hegde is a Badaguthittu Yakshagana artiste. It is the portrayal of feminine characters particularly Tare, Damayanthi, Sairendri, Dakshayini and Prabhavathi that shot him to fame. He also played the characters of Kaurava, Ravana, Brahma, Arjuna, Jambava, Keechaka and others. He had served Idagunji, Amritheshwari, Mulki, Perdooru, Markamba melas.

He won Karnataka Janapada Yakshagana Academy award, Ramavittala Prashasti, Kalagangothri Gaurava and others. 

Prof G S Bhat Sagar is an Yakshagana critic and researcher. His work ‘Yakshagana Angopaanga Samatholana Vichara’ has indepth details on Yakshagana.

Yakshamangala team of students will present ‘Mohini Ekadashi’ and ‘Sudhanwarjuna Kalaga’ Yakshagana after the award ceremony.