Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 26: The 2025-26 Yakshamangala Award of the P Dayananda Pai and P Satish Pai Yakshagana Study Centre, Mangaluru University, has been conferred on senior Yakshagana artistes Kappekere Subraya Bhagawat, Mambadi Subrahmanya Bhat, and veteran Yakshagana Artha Dhari Jabbar Samo in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the traditional theatre form.

For the Yakshamangala Literary Award, Krishna Prakash Ulittaya’s works Balipa Marga and Agari Marga have been selected, celebrating their detailed documentation of Yakshagana artistes’ lives and artistic styles. The Yakshamangala Award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, while the Literary Award carries Rs 10,000.

Born in 1947 in Hadinabal, Honnavar taluk, Uttara Kannada, Kappekere Subray Bhagavat began his Yakshagana journey at the age of 16. Renowned as a versatile performer and distinguished Bhagavat, he has performed for over five decades at major Melas including Gundubali, Idagunji, Amruteshwari, Kamalashile, Saligrama, Bachagaaru, and Panchalinga, earning acclaim as a consummate artiste.

Mambadi Subrahmanya Bhat, son of the legendary Mambadi Narayana Bhagavat, is celebrated as a Himmele performer and revered Yakshagana guru. He has conducted performances and mentored disciples at Melas in Katilu, Karnataka, and Kadri, many of whom have gone on to become professional and amateur Yakshagana artistes, extending his legacy.

Born in 1963 in Sampaje, Jabbar Samo is a Talamaddale Artha Dhari who trained under Valkunja Kumar Subrahmanya Bhat. Initially performing Yakshagana roles, he specialised in Talamaddale from 1990 onwards and is acclaimed for portraying a wide array of characters including Vali, Magadha, Karna, Arjuna, Shalya, Sugriva, Bhishma, Kaurava, Shumbha, Raktabeej, Dharmangada, Bharata, Shatrughna, Hanumantha, Veeramani, Ishwara, Balarama, Rukshma, Bhishma, Jambavant, Shatruprosudan, Bali, and Shukracharya. Known for scholarly dialogue, expressive wordplay, and emotive acting, he has garnered a large fan following.

In his literary works, Krishna Prakash Ulittaya meaningfully narrates the lives, singing styles, and artistic journeys of senior and junior Balipa Narayana Bhagavats in Balipa Marga, while Agari Marga details Agari Srinivasa Bhagavat’s life, singing techniques, compositions, and literary nuances.

The selection committee, comprising folk scholar K Chinnappa Gowda, Prof Padekallu Vishnubhat, Murali Kadekar, and director of the Yakshagana Study Centre Dhananjaya Kumble, meticulously evaluated the artistes before finalising the awards.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony scheduled for March under the presidency of Prof P L Dharma, as announced by the university registrar Prof Ganesh Sanjeev and Yakshagana Study Centre director Dhananjaya Kumble.

This year’s honours recognise both the artistes’ lifelong dedication to Yakshagana and the literary efforts that preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of Karnataka’s traditional performing arts.