Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jun 6: Multi-talented dramatist, Shantaram Kalladka (62), breathed his last at a private hospital in Mangalore on Wednesday June 5. He was widely known with the title, ‘Rangabhoomida Mallanne’ for the invaluable services rendered by him to the field of theatre, and he had also been honoured with the district level Rajyotsava award. The ‘Sir M Vishweshwaraya Award’ was conferred on him in 2007, and he also won the Tulu Academy Award in 2011-12.
He is survived by wife, two sons, two daughters, and brother, Ramesh Kalladka.
Shantaram had founded a theatre troupe, ‘Tuluvappe Jokulu’, nearly four decades back, through which a number of plays were staged. He had played a role opposite Dr Rajkumar in Kannada movie, ‘Shravana Banthu Shravana’.
He had written, directed, and adapted to stage 65 plays in Tulu and Kannada, including Kunkuma, Dareda Seera, Aal Yenna Tangadi, Londonda Mande, Tyampannana Kusal, and Bedara Kannappa. He was adept at making mud idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati . He had also worked for Tulu movies, ‘Namma Bhagya,’ and ‘Badakda Bile’.
Dr Prabhakar Bhat Kalladka, MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, K Harikrishna Bantwal, theatre artiste, Navin D Padil, Kishore D Shetty, Vijay Kumar Kodialbail, Jeevanram Sullia, and many others visited the family and offered condolences.
Scores of people including theatre groups, MLAs, former legislators and others also paid their last respects to the departed soul. Dr M Mohan Alva, theatre activist, I K Bolwar, and hundreds connected with the theatre have grieved his death.