Karnataka Yakshagana Academy has chosen artists Renjala Ramakrishna Rao, Vishnu Achary Balkuru, D. Manohar Kumar, Murli Kadekar and Ramesh for its honorary award for 2025.
The honorary award carries ₹50,000 in cash, a certificate, a plaque, a shawl and a peta.
It has announced its Yaksha Siri award for 2025 to 10 artists and book award to three persons. Those selected for Yaksha Siri award are Dasanadkka Rama Kulal, Rajiv Shetty Hosangady, Dasappa Gowda Gerukatte, Srinivas Salian, Sadashiva Kulal Venoor, Bellare Manjunath Bhat, Keshava Shakthi Nagar, Lakshmana Gowda Belal, Sanna Mallayya and A. G. Nagaraju. The award comprises ₹ 25,000 in cash, a certificate, a plaque, a shawl and a peta.
‘Dasharoopakagala Dashavatara’, a book written by Ashok Hasyagara, ‘Aatada Mela’ authored by Keremane Shivananda Hegde, and ‘Dodda Samagara Nalmoga’ published by Manipal Universal Press have been selected for the book award. It carries ₹25,000 in cash, a plaque, a shawl and a peta.
The academy has announced its late Karki Hiriya Paramaiah Hasyagara award to Devadas Rao Kodli. It comprises ₹25,000 in cash, a plaque, a shawl and a peta.
The awards will be presented at Janardhana and Mahakali temple, Ambalpady in Udupi on December 21.
A release from the academy said Renjala Ramakrishna Rao, 81, who has been chosen for the honorary award, has performed in the Kateel mela alone for four decades. Mr. Rao had performed in the Choudeshwari Mela of Madikeri for four years. He retired from Kateel mela.
D. Manohar Kumar has written 32 Yakshagana ‘prasangas’. As an artist he performed for 54 years.
Murli Kadekar, an amateur artist, is the secretary of Yakshagana Kalaranga of Udupi and performed as an artist of Ambalpady Lakshmi Janardhana Yakshagana Kala Mandali.
Mr. Shetty told The Hindu that the academy is yet to select the candidate for its prestigious Parthi Subba award for 2025. An all-members’ meeting of the academy will be held in Mangaluru on December 13, where the candidate for the Parthi Subba award will be finalised.
source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)