Writer Indira Hegde and theatre artiste Winny Fernandes will be given the Rani Abbakka Award and Rani Abbakka Puraskara, respectively, on January 25, as a part of the two-day Rani Abbakka Utsav to be held in Thumbe.
Indira Hegde, a resident of Kinnigoli, has written novels such as ‘Amayaki’, ‘Odaluguri’ and ‘Mantana’. She also has brought out collections of short stories and poems. She, along with her husband S.R. Hegde, an ex-serviceman who died a few weeks ago, wrote ‘Guttina Sainka Jagattige’ on the life of a soldier.
Winny Fernandes, a resident of Kulashekar, started her acting career at the age of 15 with the role of a child artiste in the film ‘Akhanda Brahmacharigalu’. She was part of the ‘Tulunadu Nataka Mandali’ for two years. She has acted in award winning films such as Nayi Neralu and Gulabi Talkies and in Tulu films such as Kadala Mage, Telikeda Bolli, Rickshaw Driver and Madime.
Dinakar Ullal, a member of the Utsav committee, said the awards, carrying a purse of Rs. 20,000 will be given by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a function on January 25.