Belthangady: Jyothisha Jnanarathna, Yakshadeva Sri Anantharama Bangadi (68) died on Sunday Morning (May 12) here after a brief illness.
Anantharama Bangadi was the second son of Kuthrottu Manju Bhandary and Kinyakka of Belthangady Taluk.
Anantharama Bangadi has written more than 150 Yakshagana prasangas. He was an astrologer, a prominent name in Harikatha (religious discourse), drama experimenter, puppet show performer and was also proficient in Tulu folk songs.
He was born on November 14, 1951. After his SSLC he passed Kannada Rathna exam and started learning Yakshagana Chandassu under the guidance of Simanthuru Narayana Shetty.
He has written many famous Yakshagana prasangas like Kada Mallige, Kachchuramaldi, Bolli Ginde, Patta Padmale and many others. These yakshagana prasangas have seen thousands of stages not only in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada but all over the state. Yakshagana lovers have enjoyed these prasangas immensely. Breaking the barriers of religion he had included stories of Christian saints in Yakshagana.
Anantharama Bangadi had also started a Yakshagana troop “Souharda Kalavidaru Yaksharanga Bangadi” and managed it for 15 years.
He was the first astrologer to write a Jyothisha Grantha in Tulu. His immense contribution for Tulu literature during the making of Tulu dictionary and in Tulu Nighantu workshop was immensely appreciated.
He has received various awards like Jyothisha Rathna, Karnataka state Tulu Academy award, Pulincha Ramayya Shetty award, Akhila Bharatha Tulu Sahitya Sammelana award, Vishwa Tulu Sammelana award, Tulunada Siri, Skanda Puraskara, Yakshadeva award among others.
He is survived by wife Sumathi, son Sandesh Bangadi and daughter Sandhya.
