Senior Yakshagana artiste Babu Kudthadka receives Karnooru Award

Senior Yakshagana artiste Babu Kudthadka receives Karnooru Award

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 18, 2011 : Karnooru Award 2011 was conferred on Shri B. Babu Kudthadka, a senior Yakshagana artiste, at a special programme held in honor of late Karnooru Koragappa Rai, the renowned Yakshagana artiste, at Town Hall on Aug 17 Wednesday by the Karnooru Koragappa Rai Samsmarana Samithi, Mangalore.

 

 

Erya Laxminarayana Alva, the senior folk art expert and litterateur, inaugurated the event and spoke in praise of Karnooru Koragappa Rai, who devoted his life to Yakshagana. Recalling the artist’s last few days, he said that even when his health was very bad, he showed great interest in art.

Dr. M. Prabhakar Joshi, another Yakshagana artiste, said in his felicitation address that Karnooru Koragappa Rai had the unique ability of building teams by showing due respect to each artiste. He also said that Rai bears the credit of uniting Tenku and Badagu, the two styles of Yakshagana art.

Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy President Kumble Sunder Rao presided over the event and said that the late Mr. Rai was like a brother to him and was known for his generosity. He also expressed his appreciation of Karnooru Mohan Rai, the son of the late Koragappa Rai for keeping his father’s memories alive.

Senior Yakshagana artiste B. Babu Kadthadka received the award and expressed his happiness at receiving the Karnooru Award, which is now in its third year. Kadthadka has been a Yakshagana artiste for over 32 years and built the Kudthadka Mela.

Prominent citizens such as Harikrishna Punaroor, the former president of the state Kannada Sahithya Parishad; Mahabala Shetty Kudlu; Rajkumar, the president of the Kannada Sangha Bahrain; Surendra Kumar Hegde, the president of Sanathana Vedike Mumbai; Balachandra Rao, the president of Kannada Kala Kendra Mumbai; Devadas Kapikad, the drama and film artiste; Daya Kirodiyan, the secretary of Karnataka Sangha Dubai; Karnooru Mohan Rai, the secretary of the samithi; Chidananda Naik Jeppu, the manager of Empalanji Qatar; Manohar Thonse; Bhasker Rai Kukkuvalli; Sathish Venkataramana; Bairugutthu Ramesh Shetty; and others were also present.

Daya Kirodian presented a cheque for Rs. 15,000 to Tulunada Kala Samithi on behalf of Tulu Koota Dubai on this occasion.

A Yakshagana show titled “Draupadi Vastraapaharana” marked the end of the event

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