P. Dayananda Pai and P. Satish Pai Yakshagana Adhyayana Kendra at Mangalore University has chosen Yakshagana artiste Gerukatte Gangayya Shetty for its Yakshamangala Award for 2012-13.
The award carries Rs. 25,000 cash, a citation and a memento, a release from the Kendra said. It would be presented to him at a function at the university on April 20.
Mr. Shetty has been an artiste in Durgaparameshwari Yakshagana Mandali, Kateel, for 40 years.
He is one of the senior artistes among contemporary “bannada veshadharis” in Yakshagana.
Mr. Shetty is known for donning the characters of Mahishasura, Mairavana, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Hiranyaksha, Koundleeka, Narakasura, Shumbha, Madhu and Katitabha among other roles. He is the disciple of natya guru late Padre Chandu.
Mr. Shetty has maintained a distinct identity of playing the character of Rudra Bheema. It has brought him fame.
A committee consisting of M.L. Samaga, chairman, Karnataka Yakshagana and Bayalata Academy, Amrut Someshwar, Yakshagana script writer, M. Prabhakara Joshi, senior Yakshagana artiste and K. Chinnappa Gowda, director of the Kendra has selected Mr. Shetty for the award.
There will be Yakshagana show by select artistes of Kateel mela after the award presentation function, the release added.
