Mangaluru: Six achievers from the fields of Tulu literature, folk arts, cinema and theatre have been selected for the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy honorary awards for 2025 and 2026.
The awardees include Prof B Shivarama Shetty, folk artist Kuddu Koraga and theatre personality Usha Bhandari for 2025, while KP Rao, folk artist Nemu Parava and theatre and cinema personality Sudhakar Bannanje have been selected for the 2026 awards.
Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president Taranath Gatti Kapikad announced the selections in a statement.
The honorary award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with a citation. The awards will be presented at a ceremony at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on October 4.
Prof B Shivarama Shetty selected for literature and research
Prof B Shivarama Shetty has been selected in the Literature and Research category for the 2025 award.
He served as a teaching faculty member at Mangaluru University for 38 years and has contributed to research in Tulu language and culture, including studies on Tulanadina Sasya Janapada.
Shetty also served as the head of the undergraduate and postgraduate Tulu studies departments at Mangaluru University.
He was associated with committees involved in preparing Tulu textbooks and curricula and has edited more than 15 works in Tulu and Kannada.
His contributions to Tulu studies, research and academic activities have earned him recognition in the literature and research category.
Kuddu Koraga recognised for folk arts
Traditional folk artist Kuddu Koraga has been selected for the 2025 award in the Folk Arts category.
A native of Innanje village in Kaup taluk of Udupi district, Koraga is a traditional dolu player associated with the folk traditions of Tulu Nadu.
Besides his expertise in dolu performance, he is skilled in basket weaving and is known for performing Birdu Paat, a traditional form of oral folklore.
His selection recognises his contribution to preserving and practising traditional folk art forms associated with the coastal region.
Usha Bhandari honoured for cinema and theatre
Usha Bhandari has been selected in the Cinema and Theatre category for 2025.
She has been associated with theatre and cinema for more than three decades and is known for her work as an acting skills trainer.
Bhandari has acted in several Tulu plays and films and has contributed to the development of theatre and cinema through her work both on stage and in the film industry.
KP Rao selected for literature and research
Kinnikkambla Padmanabha Rao, popularly known as KP Rao, has been selected for the 2026 award in the Literature and Research category.
Rao is recognised for his pioneering work in introducing Indian languages into computing and has undertaken research aimed at developing software for the Tulu script.
One of his notable contributions was the development of a computer programme used to print the six-volume Tulu dictionary published by the Regional Resource Centre (RRC), Udupi.
He was also among the early developers of a logical typing programme based on Tulu phonology, contributing to efforts to facilitate the use of Tulu in the digital environment.
Nemu Parava honoured for folk arts
Nemu Parava from Keyyur village in Puttur taluk has been selected in the Folk Arts category for the 2026 award.
He entered the tradition of Daiva Nartana at the age of 16 and has since performed as a daiva narthaka for several traditional daivas.
His performances have included Varnar Panjurli, Satyadevata, Pilichamundi, Rudrachamundi, Rakteshwari, Malaraya, Annappa Panjurli and Mayandala.
His selection recognises his contribution to the preservation and continuation of the traditional ritual and performance practices of Tulu Nadu.
Sudhakar Bannanje selected for cinema and theatre
Sudhakar Bannanje has been selected for the 2026 award in the Cinema and Theatre category.
Active in theatre and cinema, Bannanje has worked as a producer, director, playwright, dialogue writer and lyricist.
He has written 64 Tulu plays and has also contributed as an actor and as a director and producer of Tulu films.
His extensive work across theatre and cinema has made him a prominent contributor to Tulu performing arts.
Awards to be presented in Bengaluru
The six awardees represent different facets of Tulu language and culture, from academic research and computing to traditional folk arts, Daiva Nartana, theatre and cinema.
The Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy has selected three awardees each for the 2025 and 2026 honours across the categories of Literature and Research, Folk Arts, and Cinema and Theatre.
The honorary awards, carrying Rs 50,000 and a citation each, will be presented at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on October 4.