Udupi: Theatre artiste, poet, writer, and Rajyotsava awardee Udyavara Madhav Acharya breathed his last on Monday, December 7, at the age of 80.
As per a report by TOI, Acharya was being treated at the Kasturba Hospital till recently. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Expressing shock over Acharya’s demise, Na Mogasale, founder president, Kannada Sangha, Kantavara said informed that the Sangha’s Kanthavara Lalitala award was to be conferred on him as part of its endowment awards on December 13. It will now be conferred on the personality posthumously, TOI reported.
Born on March 25, 1941, Acharya worked in Bhandarkar’s College, Kundapur from 1965 to 1969 and later at Poornaprajna College, Udupi from 1969 to 1996 and was an accomplished economics lecturer.
His short stories and dramas brought him recognition in the 1970s and his collection of short stories – Baagida Mara, Samagra Katha is an outstanding piece of writing. He also launched Samuha, an institution through which he directed dramas and ballets of repute. Shabari, Matte Ramana Kathe, which were some of Acharya’s experiments with Kannada theatre, brought him accolades. He even choreographed classical dance and Yakshagana for his theatre productions.
Additionally, Acharya also acted in the popular Kannada serial “Guddada Bootha”.
He also served as a member of Karnataka Janapada Academy and chaired the fourth Kannada Sahitya Sammelana of the Udupi district.
