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Bhramari Mandali's Week-long Festival
The annual Yakshagana Bayalata Sapthaha organised by
the Bhramari Yakshagana Mandali Kateel, concluded on the 29th of July
at Kateel with a grand finale function and performance. This
twentyfifth anniversary, was a fitting beginning of the Silver
Jubilee Year programmes, the function was organised at Saraswathi
Sadan Hall Kateel.
The Saptaha was inagurated by the Managing Trustee of
the Kateel temple K Dayananda Shetty and President of the Bhramari
Group Kateel Laxminaryana Asranna. Six leading amateur groups gave
performances during the week. Journalist Bhuvanabhirama Udupa
and others were present.
On the Validictory Day, leading artist Kolyur Narayana
Bhat was honoured with golden momento and a purse. Sri Asranna
welcoming the gathering gave an account of the Mandali's twenty five years of service. The Chief Guest, poet B B Mujibail
lauded the
achievements of the Mandali.
Artist scholar Santur Sadashiva Rao delivered the main
discourse for the day. He stressed the need for devotion and
dedication and said Kateel Sri Devi (Mother Deity) symbolised these
values. Media consultant adverising consultant Sri Pradeep
Kalkura presiding over - said that Yakshagana has for centuries
educated the people and helped us to know about our great culture
through educative entertainment.
Thirty artists, including Dr M P Joshy were honoured
for their valuable guidance and co-operation throughout the twenty
five years. Vidwan P Krishna Bhat, the Headmaster of the Kateel
School and the secretary of the Mandali was accorded a 'surprise
honour'. P Krishna Bhat, P Srinivasa Bhat and associates
conducted the proceedings.
Leading artists led by Dr Bhaskarananda Kumar, Kolyur
Ramachandra Rao, Kubanur Sridhar Rao presented a full night
performance. The programmes were well organised and well
attended.
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Gumpe
Ramayya Rai Pases Away
Gumpe Ramayya Rai, one of the senior actors of
Tenkuthittu Yakshagana, passed away recently at his family home Gumpe
of Kasaragod District. He was 65. Sri Rai was a capable
Veshadhari with a service of over four decades to the field. He
was well versed in the spoken word of Yakshagana. His roles like
Athikaya, Shakuni, Karna, Arjuna, Buddhivantha etc. had brought him
fame. His 'artha' was full of study of poetry, wit and
effect. He came under the influence of senior colleague Haridas
Ramdas Samaga (Sanna Samaga) and emulated him ably. He served in
the Karnataka Mela for over twenty years. He was famous both in
Kannada and Tulu performances.
Back.
'Murali'
Honoured
Murali Kadekar, Secretary, Kalaranga Udupi was recently
honoured at Udupi at one of the Talamaddale organised by the Kalaranga
and associates. A young, energetic and capable organiser, popularly
known as 'Murli' in and around Udupi, he has been the secretary of the
Ranga for the last eight years. His organising capacity came to
the fore with this year's Silver Jubilee year program series of the
organisation, which he organised very well. He is instrumental
in framing and executing the artists welfare schemes of this
group. 'Murali' very reluctantly accepted the honour, and
requested to bring in new people to shoulder the responsibilities. The
honour was followed by a Talamaddale by leading artistes.
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Yakshagana At Ladakh and Delhi
Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali of
Kermane Shambhu Hegde gave Yakshagana performances recently at Leh in
Ladakh and at New Delhi. The programmes were sponsored by the
cultural wing of the Government of India. The troupe
organisation was led by Keremane Shivananda Hegde.
The performances, though adapted to short version
suiting the context, were well received by the learned
audiences.
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Polya to Direct T V Serial
Senior Bhagawath Polya Laxminarayana Shetty has
directed a thirteen episode Yakshagana T V Serial 'Shri Vaishnavidevi',
produced by Chandrahasa Amin under Richen Media Syndicate
Incorporated Bombay. The story and episode prasanga are by
Somanath Kotian and M T Poojary. Recently the inaugural
rehearsal was flagged off by Sri Jaya C Suvarna, President, Billava
Association who wished in venture all success. The serial is
chiefly starred by amateurs including some female artists.
Besides Polya, singer Dinesh Ammannaya and Karnur Koragappa Rai have
done the singing.
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Madhya Venkat Rao is No More
Teacher, Kannada and Sanskrit scholar, arthadhari Sri Madhya Venkat Rai
Suratkal died recently at his residence in Mangalore at the age of
88. He was a scholarly arthadhari in Talamaddale, a pravachanakara
(epic discourse speaker), a social worker, and a trustee of religious
shrines. He had also acted in and directed plays.
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Trivikrama
Shenoy gets Dogra Poojary Award
 "Late Sri Dogra
Poojary was a great supporter of art and artists. His position as
a Yakshagana organiser was a revolution as it symbolised an upward
movement of a class also. An award in his name is a significant
event" said Dr M P Joshy presiding over the twentieth Dogra Poojary
Commemoration Award function at Mangalore. He outlined the
achivements of the awardee artist Nandikur Trivikrama Shenoy, a veteran
'Bannada' (Demon Role) actor of Yakshagana.
Sri Shenoy has served the
art for over four decades in various art troupes of Bombay, the Kateel
Mela and the Sunkadakatte Mela, with distinction. He is an
accomplished artist with a grip over make up tradition, acting, dance and
stage convention, capable of combining them effectively into good
artistic expression. Sri Shenoy was honoured with a shawl, a
scroll, Phalatambula and a purse.
The award has been
instituted by the Dogra Poojary Smaraka Kendra. Sri Poojary was a
troup organiser and artist and had supported many artists in times of
difficulty.
The function was held at
the University College Auditorium Mangalore. Sri Mundappa Bolur welcomed
the gathering. Prof Shambha Sharma made the felicitation address
and gave a sketch of Sri Shenoy's artistic talent. Artist Kumble
Sundar Rao recalled his association with Sri Shenoy. Prof G K Bhat
Seraje conducted the proceedings. Sri Shenoy called upon all art
loving public to take steps to preserve and develop the great
traditional art. Madhukumar Bolur and Damodar Nisarga organised the
function. The award function was followed by a Talamaddale 'Shurpanakha'
featuring Bhagawath Raghuram Holla, Dr Joshy, Kumble Sundar Rao, Bhaskar
Rai, Shambhu Sharma, Murali Kateel and Krishnayya Acharya.
Prominent personalities like Prof Ananta Someshwar, MLA Vijayakumar
Shetty attended the function.
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Reserved
Area Proposed For Yakshagana At Nehru Maidan
The Mangalore City
Corporation, in response to a request by a group of artists, has agreed
to earmark a portion of the Nehru Maidan for Yakshagana professional
troupes.
The city corporation
commisioner Sri J R Lobo, assured the delegation led by Sri Nagesh
Salian, President, Karnataka Samskritika Kriyavedike, a federal body of
artists and art organisation of the Coastal Karnataka region. The
Commissioner suggested the forum members to prepare a site plan to
facilitate the work being taken up.
The proposal put forward by
the Kriyavedike, a year back, was accepted in principle by the then
Mayor Sri Ramesh Kotian and the Commissioner A B Ibrahim. The
northern strip of the maidan, behind the Town hall measuring about 300
feet by 100 feet has been propsed for the purpose. The area will
be fenced and a stage will be put up there.
The delegation also
appraised the Corporation of some inadequacies at the Town Hall.
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Devarpal
Krishna Rao Passes Away
Leading
Social worker and Yakshagana singer Devarpal Krishna Rao of Kalasa
died recently at the age of 90. He was a capable aritst, an
organiser of religious and cultural programmes and a guru.
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Durgappa Gets
Srinivas Udupa Award
Famous percussionist Sri
Durgappa Gudigar, Bhatkal has been slected for the Karkada Srinivasa
Udupa for this year. The award commemorates the late Udupa, one
of the founders of Makkala Mela (Childrens Yakshagana Troupe),
Saligrama. He was a teacher and art organiser.
The awardee, Durgappa
Gudigar is basically from Srisi. He is a maddale player of
outstanding ability. He is known for his special finger beats,
creative beating, quick follow work and dedication to work. He
has served in the Idagunji, Kota, Sirsi and Perdur Troupes, for the
last three decades.
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Yakshagana Workshop
At Brahmavar
Yakshagana Kendra Training
Center of Udupi presented a Yakshagana tradition workshop at
Brahmavara on 30th of August. The workshop included presentation
of various traditional dance items like entry dancer, jalakeli (water
play), battle dance and variety steps of various talas. The workshop
was organised by Ajapura Karnataka Sangha. Inaugurating the
workshop, senior Bhagawatha Gopady Vittal Patil gave a call to
preserve the beauty of the dance and conventions of Yakshagana.
He condemned the mutilation caused in the name of "new
steps" and "new singing". Presiding over the
Janapadashree Awardee, Senior Maddalegar Sri Hiriyadka Gopala Rao
lauded the effort of the Karnataka Sangha in supporting Yakshagana and
literary activities.
Principal Nilavara
Laxminarayana Rao of the Kendra introduced the workshop Sri Brahmavara
Subbanna Bhat, the chief organiser welcomed and thanked the gathering.
The teacher at the Kendra Guru Bannanje Sanjiva Suvarna directed and
conducted the workshop which won wide appreciation. Suvarna gave
and exemplary show of Direction.
The Chief Guest at the
Validictory, Sri H Sridhara Hande, spoke of the need and importance of
such workshops in fostering the tradition and building up the
interest. The sponsorer of the programme Sri Sadashiva Aithala
of Brahmavara was present and encouraged the artists and organisers.
The students of the
Yakshagana Kendra performed 'Hidimba Vivaha' episode in the
traditional style. The workshop was well appreciated and well
attended.
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Farewell
M S Krishna Bhat
Welcome Ananthakrishna
The popular and dynamic Chairman of Karnataka Bank
Ltd, Mangalore, a leading private bank, retired on the 11th of
July. A capable administrator, an expert on banking, a lover of
art and culture, Krishna Bhat led the bank to great heights. It
is hoped that his retired life will be active.
Sri T Ananthakrishna, the chief General Manager of the
Bank now, has been appointed to succeed the retiring Chairman.
Soft spoken, able cultured Sri Ananthakrishna is a worthy
successor.
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Tulu Festival At
Mysore
A grand Tulu Festival was organised by Karnataka
Tulu Akademi and D K Zilla Association Mysore, at Kalamandir Mysore.
Ex C M Sri Veerappa Moily inagurated and spoke of the achievement of
Tuluvas. Experts presented papers on the contribution of Tuluvas
to Kannada culutre. The conference featured poetry reading,
Yakshagana, Tiger Dance (Hulivesha), Yakshagana dance, Light music
concert, humour book exhibition and a validictory. There was
enthusiastic participation. The stage decoration with Tulunadu
cultural orientation provided a befitting ambience to the
festival.
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Yakshaprabha, a monthly dedicated to Yakshagana has
entered its sixth year of publication, this August. Edited and
published by Bhagawatha Kubanur Sridhar Rao (Singer, director in one
of the two form troupes from Kateel). Yakshaprabha is a ten page
monthly containing articles and news. It is a very significant
attempt to run the magazine for Yakshagana and a difficult task too.
The magazine has gained strength during the last six years and now
it is able to stand on its own, after difficult times. It is the
second such magazine in Kannada after Kadathoka
Manjunatha Bhagawath had published Yakshagana magazine in the
sixties and again in the eighties.
We congratulate Kubanur and his team for their
laudable achievement, and wish them greater success in the years to
come.
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A Talamaddale arthadhari, prasanga author, Sri
Golithodka Parameshwar Bhat (80) died recently in Mangalore. A
retired Kannada teacher, Sri Bhat was an able performer in
Talamaddale. He has written the famous Yakshagana prasanga "Chandrahara
Charitre". He was an associate of Polali Shastri and was
awarded the Polali Shastri Commemoration honour in 1995.
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Guddappa Gowda
Honoured
Leading artist, Kalagadi Guddappa Gowda was honoured
in a function organised by artist Sampaje Seenappa Rai. Art
supporter and film personality Deviprasad Sampaje presided. Vidhwan
P Krishna Bhat, Prabhakar Shishila, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura and
Dr Joshy were the guests. Lion Navaneeth Shetty conducted the
programme. The honour was followed by a night long Yakshagana
performance.
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