Mangalore University Reveals Prestigious Yakshamangala Award Recipients for 2025-26
In a significant announcement from Mangaluru, Mangalore University's Dr P Dayananda Pai-P Satish Pai Yakshagana Adhyana Kendra has officially declared the recipients of the esteemed Yakshamangala Awards for the 2025-26 cycle. The honours will be bestowed upon three distinguished figures in the Yakshagana tradition: veteran artiste Kappekere Subraya Bhagavata, dedicated teacher Mambadi Subrahmanya Bhat, and senior performer Jabbar Samo. Additionally, the Yakshamangala Literary Award has been conferred on percussion artiste and author Krishna Prakash Ulithaya for his notable contributions through his books 'Balipa Marga' and 'Agari Marga'.
Details of the Awards and Ceremony
According to a formal release from the university, both the Yakshamangala Award and the Yakshamangala Literary Award will include a cash prize, accompanied by a certificate, a commemorative memento, and formal honours. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in March, where the recipients will be publicly recognized for their lifelong dedication to this classical art form.
In a related development, Vice-Chancellor PL Dharma disclosed that Bengaluru-based businessman and philanthropist P Dayananda Pai has announced a special grant of Rs 1 crore. This substantial funding is intended to expand Yakshagana-related research initiatives at the centre and is expected to be formally handed over during the award ceremony, marking a significant boost for cultural studies.
Profiles of the Award Winners
Kappekere Subraya Bhagavata, also known as Kappekere Subraya Hegde, is a towering figure in the Badaguthittu style of Yakshagana. Born in 1947 in Hadinabala, Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada, he embarked on his Yakshagana training at the age of 16. Over a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, he has established himself as an all-round artiste and a leading Bhagavata, performing with numerous renowned troupes such as Gundubala, Idagunji, Amruteshwari, Kamalashile, Saligrama, and Bachhagaaru.
Mambadi Subrahmanya Bhat has made invaluable contributions to Yakshagana both as a performer and an educator, proudly continuing the legacy of his father, Mambadi Narayana Bhagavata. He has toured extensively with troupes like Kateel and Kadri, and his impact extends to teaching, where he has trained hundreds of students in Yakshagana percussion across the regions of Kasaragod and Dakshina Kannada.
Jabbar Samo, born in 1963 to Mohiuddin Kunhi and Bipathumma, developed a deep passion for Yakshagana from an early age and pursued pre-university studies at St Philomena College in Puttur. Initially trained by Valakunja Kumar Subramanya Bhat, he has portrayed a diverse array of characters, including Drona, Jabali, Ishwara, Sanjaya, Akrura, and Brahma. Since 1990, he has been particularly acclaimed for his performances in roles such as Vali, Karna, Arjuna, Bhishma, Sugriva, Shumbha, Dharmangada, Bharata, Hanuman, Balarama, Jambavanta, and Shukracharya. The university highlighted his exceptional dialogue delivery, expressive capabilities, and emotional acting as key strengths that set him apart.
Literary Recognition and Selection Process
Krishna Prakash Ulithaya earns the Yakshamangala Literary Award for his scholarly works. His book 'Balipa Marga' meticulously chronicles the lives and musical journeys of senior Yakshagana artistes Ajja Balipa Narayana Bhagavata and the younger Balipa Narayana Bhagavata. Meanwhile, 'Agari Marga' documents the life, unique singing style, compositions, and literary distinctiveness of the Thenkuthittu legend Agari Srinivas Bhagavata, preserving vital cultural heritage.
The selection process was overseen by a committee chaired by esteemed folklore scholar K Chinnappa Gowda. The panel included members Padekallu Vishnubhat, Yakshagana organiser Murali Kadekar, and centre director Dhananjaya Kumble. The recommendations for all awardees were unanimous, reflecting a collective agreement on their outstanding contributions to the field.
