Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EP/SP)
Udupi, Jan 31: Top notch Badagutittu Yakshagana artiste, Arate Manjunath (73), breathed his last at his home in Gavali in the district on Friday January 30. Manjunath was known since several decades for his fine portrayal of female lead roles in a large number of popular Yakshagana episodes.
Arate's portrayal of roles like Ambe, Shashiprabhe, Damayanthi, Dakshayani, Chandramathi, Meenaskhi, Seetha, Subhadra, Mohini, and Draupadi had set high standards for other artistes in this art form. He also had a large fan following. He also excelled in roles needing youthful exuberance like Krishna and Ashwathama.
Arate Manjunath is survived by wife and two daughters.
He had served the field of Yakshagana for 55 years. He excelled not only in mythological roles, but also in social Yakshagana dramas.
Arate had served Saligrama, Mandarthi, Maranakatte, Kamalashile, Keremane, Suratkal, Halladi and some other troupes. He had set up his own Ganesha Pravasi Yakshagana troupe at Halladi, through which he not only organized performances in various parts of the state during monsoon, but also imparted training to youngsters in the art of Yakshagana.
Excellent artiste in female roles
His voice, appearance, body and talent made him popular at a young age. He initially became popular as Parashurama as child artiste in Mandarti Mela and later got identified as Damayanthi, Seetha, Chitrangade, Savithri, Thare, Mandodari, Sairendri, Shashiprabhe, Ambe, Jwale, Kaike, Drawpadi, Meenakshi, Padmagandhi, Prameele etc.
Childhood among legends
Arate was born as the eldest son of Karki Rama Naika and Manjamma couple hailing from near Gulvadi in Kundapur Taluk. He studied till fourth standard and started acting in Maranakatte troupe as Kodangi. He had high regards for the educated as he was not educated. His friends are highly educated. He has given higher education to his three children and has become an example for other artistes. He improved in stages as the student of Matpadi Srinivasa Naik and improved in the art of acting. Another artiste Vaikunta was his rival.
Later, when Haradi Narayana Ganiga, Kokkarne Narasimha Kamath, Kollebailu Sheena Naik, Margoli Govinda Seregar, Neelavara Subbanna Shetty, Heranjalu Venkataramana, Vandse Narayana Ganiga gave up acting due to old age, Badagathittu gave a ray of hope.
He became famous as Thriloka Sundari in Shwetha Kumara Charithre, Shwetha Kumara of Molahalli Hari, Yama of Udupi Basavanna and Shive of Vandse Narayana Ganiga. He also served in Thenkina Raja Rajeshwari Mela. He served in Kolluru, Mandarthi, Idagunji, Kundavu, Surathkal and Mulky Melas for forty years.
His service in Saligrama Mela
Arate had a long acquaintance with Saligrama mela. He was the favourite artiste of its owner Palli Somanath Hegde. He became its convener during the trip of the mela to Mumbai.