Yakshagana Artiste Padma Shri Awardee Chittani Ramachandra Hegde passes away
Udupi: Eminent Yakshagana artiste and Padma Shri awardee Chittani Ramachandra Hegde passed away on Tuesday, October 3 after a brief illness at Manipal Hospital. Hegde was admitted to the KMC Hospital Manipal on Friday.
The 84-year-old artiste, who has been performing Yakshagana for over seven decades, was on stage in the Yakshagana, staged as part of Navaratri celebrations in Bangarmakki village between September 21 and 25. He was suffering from a bout of pneumonia.
Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is the first artiste performing Yakshagana, to receive the prestigious Padma Shri award and he had dedicated the award to “Yakshagana”.
He also received various awards like K Shivaram Karanth award in 2009, Janapada Shri Award in 2004, Keremane Shivarama Hegde Award in 2013, Rajyotsava award in 1991, Karki Venkataramana Shastri Suri Award in 2009, Alva’s Nudisiri Award in 2012 and Aryabhata International award by Aryabhata cultural Organization for his immense contribution in the field of Yakshagana.
Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is one of the most popular Yakshagana artistes from Honnavar, Uttara Kannada. He was born on the 1st of January 1933. He started his Yakshagana career when he was just 7 years old, after dropping out of School when he was still studying in the II Standard. He started performing main roles when he was just 14 years old and was performing on stage even at the age of 84. He donned the role of the father of Bheeshma in the mythological Yakshagana staged on September 25 before falling ill with a bout of pneumonia.
Hard to believe that he was already in his 50s when I had the opportunity to watch him perform. He was a legend back in 80s. RIP…