2 veteran Yakshagana artistes to receive Bolara Narayana Shetty Awards

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 3, 2014: Addressing media in Mangaluru on  November 2,Tuesday, award committee convener Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli announced that   Bolara Narayana Shetty awards for the year 2014 will be presented to Yakshagana artistes Bellare Vishwanatha Rai and Bajal Janardana.  He said that the awards will be conferred at a programme to be held at Sri Gurudevadatta Samsthana in Odiyuru on December 6. Odiyuru seer Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji will present the awards.

Bellare Vishwanatha Rai has served the Yakshagana for around 50 years. He has won several accolades and honours for his performance. He has worked in many Tenkutittu melas including Madhur, Suratkal, Kadri, Bappanadu, Kuntaru and Kateel.

Awardee Bajal Janardana has performed Yakshagana for the last 42 years. After initiating into the art at the age of 18, he performed in Karnataka, Kadri, Bappanadu, Dharmasthala and Sunkadakatte melas. He is known for the character ‘Kudka’ and ‘Usman.’ The award will carry a cash prize of Rs 10,000, memento and citation.

Later, artistes of Sri Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali, Kollangana will perform a Yakshagana play ‘Sripathi-Srimathi-Indrajithu Kalaga’