Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy has announced its annual awards for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Awards will be presented to nine people on March 15 at the Tulu Bhavana in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit: MANJUNATH H.S.

The Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy has announced its annual honourary awards for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 to three personalities each from the fields of literature, theatre and folk.

Literature and research award for 2022 was announced to Raghupathi Kemthur (71) from Udupi while that of theatre and cinema would be presented to Rathnamala Purandara (65) from Bengaluru and Prabhakar Sherigar (70) from Udupi was chosen for the folk award, said Academy President Taranath Gatti Kapikad in a release.

Seemanthur Chandrahasa Suvarna (70) from Mumbai, Nekkidapuni Gopalakrishna (77) from Bengaluru and Lakshmana Kantha (65) from Kananthoor were chosen for the literature, theatre and folk awards, respectively, for 2023.

For the year 2024, Yashvanth Boloor (70), Sarojini Shetty (60) and B.K. Deva Rao (80) were chosen in the fields of literature, theatre and folk fields respectively.

The awards, carrying a ₹50,000 purse and citation, would be presented to the awardees at a programme on March 15 at the Tulu Bhavana in Mangaluru, Mr. Kapikad said.

Mr. Kemthur has obtained a D.Phil degree for his thesis on the names of places of Tulunadu from Mysore University in 1981. His works, including Tulunadina Sthalanadhyana, Tulu Mattu Kannada Sthalanama Vastukosha and Hesarinallenide, give detailed accounts of the names of places in Tulunadu.

Rathnamala Purandara

A native of Panambur, Ms. Purandara is settled in Bengaluru and has acted in over 30 Tulu plays. As a singer, she has released over 70 cassettes.

Prabhakara Sherigar

Resident of Kadiyali in Udupi, Mr. Sherigar used to play the rare Mundasu (Soorya) Vadya in temples.

Chandrahasa Suvarna

A native of Shimanthoor in Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Suvarna is settled in Mumbai for the last 44 years. He has published 17 works, including 10 in Tulu. Many of his works have received Tulu Academy awards.

Nekkidapuni Gopalakrishna

Mr. Gopalakrishna, a native of Alike in Bantwal taluk, is settled in Bengaluru for the last 46 years. He began writing in 1969, and has published 24 Tulu plays while engaging in direction as well as acting.

Lakshmana Kantha

A native of Kananthoor near Balepuni, Mr. Kantha was engaged in Daivaradhana from the age of 19. He performs Nema seve for many Daivas, including Kananthoor Thodakukkinaru Kshetra, Kootatthaje, Ullalthi, Varkady etc.

Yashavanth Boloor

Mr. Boloor has been in the Tulu literature field for the last 50 years, weaving his life and work with the fisherfolk. Over 65 of his Tulu songs have been used in plays, films and albums. Having worked as a journalist in mainstream media, he also brought out ‘Meenavali’ monthly magazine for fishermen.

Sarojini Shetty

A resident of Shaktinagara in Mangaluru, Ms. Shetty has been active in Tulu theatre and Tulu-Kannada cinema for the last 45 years. She entered theatre at the age of 15 through Kandane Budedi play of K.N. Tailor and forayed into cinema with B.V. Karanth’s Chomana Dudi. She entered Tulu cinema through Tulunada Siri, directed by K.N. Tailor in 1976.

Deva Rao

Mr. Deva Rao of Bangadi Killoor in Belthangady taluk has unique achievements to his credit in paddy cultivation by growing over 170 paddy varities that were on the verge of extinction. He has also preserved over 80 varieties of mango and 50 varities of jackfruit.