• Silver Jubilee Celebration of Yakshagana Kalaranga  (A report from Southnexus.com)

• A Time Ripe for Discussion - Heggade

• 'Yakshagana Vachovilasa' Released

• Sheni Honourer at Literary Conference

• Damodar Shettigar Remembered

• P V Aithal remembered

• Kumble to Chair Bombay Yakshagana Conference

• Yakshagana Vaibhava - Thirteen Artists Honoured

• Yakshagana TV Serial - A Breakthrough

• Ujire Raja Is No More

• Folklore Akademi Annual Award and Folk Music Festival

• Tulu Akademi Annual Awards Given Away

• Haridas Upadhyaya Honoured

 A Time Ripe for Discussion - Heggade

"This is the time to ponder over and discuss future of art.  Let us not accuse of things done in the past.  Let us think seriously about the preservation and future of art" said Sri Dr D Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala at the Silver Jubilee programme of the Yakshagana Kalaranga Udipi.  He appreciated the work done by teh Kalaranga for the development of Yakshagana. 

In a grand valedictory function held at PPC Hall, Udupi, the chief patron Sri Sri Vishweshateeertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt blessed the Kalaranga and lauded the efforts of artists in keeping our culture alive and awake.

President of the Ranga, B Jagajivandas Shetty welcomed the gathering.  Secretary Murali Kadekar in his report outlined the achivements of twenty five years.

U R Sabhapathi, MLA, Udupi announced his help to the Ranga by way of computer and a site for the office.  Kalegowda Nagawar, Chariman, State Folklore and Yakshagana AKademi, said that our arts have shaped the thinking of the people and also said that a deep and systematic review of our cultural forms is essential.  He released the booklet containing the profiles of artists honoured.  Twenty five senior artists from Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada were honoured, witha purse of Rs.5,000/- each. Two senior expert artist organisers - P Sridhara Hande Yajman and H Subbanna Bhat and Two senior figures of the Ranga - Vishwajna Shetty and S V Bhat were honoured.

Dr M Prabhakara Joshy, felicitated the Ranga, the artist and the patrons for their excellent achevements.  He said that the Kalaranga has given an example of outstanding work beased on solid theoretical and practical foundations. Patrons of the Ranga were presented a token of thanks.  Ananda Ganiga and K S Kedlaya, compered, whild Nagabhushana U thanked.  The function was followed by preformances of 'Sharasethu and Meenakshi Kalyana'. 

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'Yakshagana Vachovilasa' Released

"Anecdotes, bits of information from various fields of activity, memoirs and such type of literature have a great value in understanding culture and helps to find our own way of thinking" said critic and folk artist Prof. B A Viveka Rai, releasing the book 'Yakshagana Vachovilasa', a collection by Prof. N K Chennakeshava, Karkala. The book contains collections of interesting dialogues and incidents from yakshagana artha (spoken word).  This book is the first of its kind.  It is devided into ten chapters containing various types of flashes, literary beauty, homour, parallel thinking, humour off the stage, peculiar impropreity etc. 

The release function was held at R R C, MGM College Uduoi, who have published the work. Dr M Prabhakar Joshy introduced the book and explained the way a text is created the discourses is continued in the social level. 

Prof. Haridas Bhat, director RRC welcomed the gathering. While S A Krishnayya, Researcher, thanked.  Prof N T Bhat, Deputy Director R R C conducted the programme.

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Sheni Honourer at Literary Conference

(Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat)

Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat, the maestro of the spoken word of Yakshagana, was honoured at the 68th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Bagalkot on 26th June.  It was a proud moment for Yakshagana as it is the first time a Yakshagana artist is being honoured at the All India Karnataka Literary Conference.  Others honoured included Sri B D Jatti (former Vice President of India), Music maestro R K Srikanthan, Cricketer S M H Kirmani, theatre personality B V Karanth, Justice N D Venkatesh, Prof Sujana, M B Dhuttharagi and many stalwarts from various fields.

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Thirty folklore artists, three scholars and two writers have honoured at the annual award function of the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Akademi in a colourful function held at the Town Hall, Bangalore. The awardees included Yakshagana artists Pakalakunja Krishna Nayak, Kunjalu Ramakrishna Hasyagar, and Gode Narayana Hegde. Seniour folklorist Dr Tapaswikumar, Dr M N Wali and Dr H J Lakkappa Gowa were honoured for their lifetime contribution to the study of folklore.  Prof Amrit Someswar and Dr P K Rajasekhar bagged the book awards for 1998.  The function featured a grand folk musical exposition by well known artists.  Sri Banantur Kempayya, Director of All India Radio Mangalore for the special award for popularising folk music as a singer and director.

   Tulu Akademi Annual Awards Given Away

Mangalore: Thirteen senior artists were honoured at Town Hall Mangalore, on the occasion of the concluding function of the 30th Annive3rsary of Sri Mahalingeswara Yakshgana Sangha, Pandeshwara, Mangalore on the 11th of June.  The celebration was called 'Yakshavandana', as the culminating point of the week long 'Yaksha Vaibhava - 2000' starting on the 5th June.

The artists honoured were Tyampanna Shetty Pilar, Puttur Sheenappa Bhandary, Pathala Venkatramana Bhat, Hasyagar Pervody Narayana Bhat, Krishnappa Karkera, Babu Kudthadka, Sampaje Seenappa Rai, Karnur Koragappa Rai, Tenkabail Shastry Bhagawath, Maimbady Subbanna Bhat, E Srinivasa Bhat Kiniigoly, B Pirushottama Punja and Jabbar Samo for their achievements in the various aspects of Yakshagana.  

The guests on the occasion, Sri Sri Narendranath Swamiji, Sri Ananthakrishna, CGM Karnataka Bank, Krishana Palimar, M D of Landlinks, Nagendra M D of Supreme Feeds Udupi, stressed the need for encouraging such festivals to foster art enthusiasm.  They said that the cultural interests of people are shaped and refined by Yakshagana.  Dr M Prabhakara Joshy felicitated the artists.

From the 5th to 10th, various groups gave Talamaddale performances.  On the 11th, Talamaddale and Bayalata by well know artists was arranged. 

On the 5th, the festival was inaugurated at the Pandeshwara temple by S S Nayak of Nayaka Associates, Sri M Sadashiva Hege of the Excise Dept, Sri Ramnath Hegde, Managing Trustee of Mangaladevi Temple, Gurdath Rao graced the occasion.  

A committee led by Nagesh Salian, Ravindra Pilar, K R Karanth, Damodar Bolar, Yogish Kumar J and others organised the festival very well. 

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Haridas Upadhyaya Honoured

Senior Sanskrit scholar and a celebrated teacher, Sri Kalmanje Haridas Upadhyaya was recently honoured at Udupi at a grand function.  Sri Upadhyaya was hailed as the 'Upadhyaya' (teacher) in the real and full sense. 

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Yakshagana T V Serial - A Breakthrough

(Ishwara Bhat and Muliyala Kumar)

IBM live cassettes, Bangalore and Mangalore have created history by venturing on a breakthrough achivement.  The firm has recently completed the shooting of a 16 hour televison serial 'Kurukshetra' the story of Mahabharata war.  The shooting took place in Bangalore at Sri B Krishna Bhat's Girinagara Complex.  The serial directed by Mittur Ishwara Bhat and Muliyala Kumar. 

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Ujire Raja is No More

A leading female role actor Ujire Raja passed away recently at Ujire.  He was 41.  A capable actor, he handled emotional and complex roles with good command.  His role Sharmista, in the 'Yayati' story brought him great appreciation.  Senior artists and wellwishers have mourned his untimely death.  Sri Raja was in Suratkal Mahammayee Yakshaga Troupe for 15 years.