Mangalore, September 17: The former chairman of the Yakshagaana Bayalata Committe Kumble Sunder Rao said Sheni Gopal Krishna Bhat is an ikon Yakshagaana artist. He is a wonderful artist, whose perfection in management of the character and the art of story narration has attracted a wide range of audience.
He presented a commemoration speech at “Sheni Samsmarane kalotsava”, which was organised at S.D.M College in the city on Monday on behalf of the Kalkura Foundation.
Great artist Gopal Bhat, during his lifetime has proved that Sheni and Yakshagaana are interlinked to one another. Another artist ever has replaced him. He has greatly contributed to Yaksagaana by his roles of Bhagavata, arthadhari, impostor and back-ground player. Artists like us can improve ourselves by following his ability to handle the management of the characters. His Bappa Beary’s character symbolises communal harmony. The audience used to sit and wait to watch that role, he recalled.
MLC Ivan D’Souza felicitated the award and said, Yakshagaana is a unique art which depicts the joy and miseries of life. Sheni is a greatest scholar. He has strived to preserve the Yakshagaana art.
Yakshagaana critic and artist Ambatanaya and artist GK Bhat Seraje were felicitated with the ‘Sheni Kalotsava Award’.
The district Chairman of Kannada Sahitya Parishad Pradeep Kumar Kalkura presided over the function.
Director of S.D.M Institute Of Management StudiesDr. Devraj, Senior General Manager of Karnataka Bank P. Jayarama Hande, Venugopal the grandson of Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat were the guests.
H.Janardhana Hande welcomed the gathering.G Shankar Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.
Nityananda Karanth and Sudhakar Rao Pejavara convened the program. Post which the episodes of ‘Mayapuri Mahathme’ and “Viramani Kaalaga” was presented.
