The first Parthi Subba Award for Yakshagana instituted by the State Government was presented at a function at Kumble in Kasaragod district of Kerala on Sunday.
Senior composers of Yakshagana “prasangas” Amruth Someshwar and Hosthota Manjunatha Bhagawathar received the award for 2009 and 2010, respectively.
The award comprised Rs. 1 lakh cash prize and a citation.
Kumble is considered the birthplace of Parthi Subba, who is believed to be the father of Yakshagana.
Kumble Sundar Rao, chairman of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy; V. S. Acharya, Minister for Higher Education; J. Krishna Palemar, Minister for Environment, Ecology, Inland Water Transport, Ports, Fisheries and Science and Technology; and Keshavananda Bharathi swamiji of Edneer Math, were present.
K. Chinnappa Gowda, Registrar (Administration) of Mangalore University, spoke on the achievements of the artistes. A talamaddale “Chudamani” had been arranged. Artistes of Yakshagana Kendra, Udupi, staged “Panchavati” show in Badagu Thittu style and other selected artistes performed Yakshagana show “Yajna Samrakshane” in Tenku Thittu style. All three prasangas have been written by the late Subba.
