Puttur: The cultural landscape of Puttur has lost one of its most iconic figures with the passing of Radha Krishna Shetty (59), popularly known as Pili Radhanna. Renowned for giving Puttur’s pili vesha (tiger dance) its own distinctive style and identity, he breathed his last in the early hours of Saturday, September 6.
Illness and passing
A resident of Kemmai in Puttur, Shetty had been ailing for some time. On September 5, he was admitted to a hospital in Puttur and later shifted to a facility in Mangaluru for advanced treatment. Despite medical efforts, he did not respond and passed away in the early hours of Saturday.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
A legacy rooted in tradition
Fondly called Pili Radhanna in his hometown, Shetty earned fame for his deep devotion to pili vesha, a vibrant folk art form synonymous with coastal Karnataka’s festive and religious traditions. His performances were marked by a sense of sanctity, ensuring that the ritualistic spirit of the tiger dance was preserved even as the art form evolved.
Pili Radhanna’s contribution was not just limited to performance—he shaped the dance into a cultural brand for Puttur, inspiring younger generations to take pride in the art.
A family of tiger dancers
Nearly 65 years ago, Puttur had only two icons of the tiger dance—Pili Sankappanna and Pili Ganganna. Among them, Pili Sankappa Shetty, who performed for nearly three decades, was the father of Radha Krishna Shetty.
Carrying forward this legacy, young Radha Krishna joined his father’s troupe as a kinni pili (junior tiger dancer) at the age of nine, while studying in the 4th standard. From then began a lifelong association with the art form.
Father and son on stage
For almost a decade, father and son performed together, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural history of Puttur. Audiences still recall the electrifying performances where the young boy, once a kinni pili, shared the stage with his legendary father.
Over the years, Radha Krishna Shetty stepped into his own spotlight. His distinctive style and devotion to the art earned him the affectionate title Pili Radhanna, a name that came to symbolise both respect and admiration in Puttur.
Cultural impact and remembrance
Pili Radhanna’s journey reflects the larger story of how pili vesha has been preserved across generations. By combining energy, ritual, and artistry, he ensured that the tiger dance of Puttur retained its distinctive identity, separate from neighbouring regions.
Local cultural enthusiasts and fellow performers have described his passing as the end of an era. “He was not just a performer, but a guardian of tradition,” said one admirer.
Conclusion
As Puttur mourns the loss of Pili Radhanna, his legacy continues through the art form he cherished and the generations he inspired. From a kinni pili at age nine to becoming the face of Puttur’s tiger dance tradition, his life stands as a testament to devotion, discipline, and cultural pride.