N. Rathna and Chandrakanth Kusanur, who have won lifetime achievement awards

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Nataka Academy has selected noted theatre person and former Director of the All-India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, N. Rathna and noted playwright Chandrakanth Kusanur for its honorary lifetime achievement awards for 2004 and 2005, respectively.

It has chosen Bharat Kumar Poliptu of Karnataka Sangha, Mumbai, for the K. Hiranniah Centenary Endowment Award instituted in 2005 by noted theatre person Master Hirannaiah in association with the academy.

It has instituted five awards named after late playwright and actor C.G. Krishnaswamy (CGK) who died recently.

Announcing the awards, Chairperson of the academy Srinivas G. Kappanna said they will be presented during the three-day celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Kannada theatre at Hoovinahadagali in Bellary district from April 21 to 23.

Dr. Rathna and Mr. Kusanur have been selected for the honorary awards in recognition of their contribution to the Kannada theatre for over 40 years.

The academy has selected many young talents in the State for the awards, Mr. Kappanna said. Except cash prizes, all awards carry a citation, a memento and a shawl each. The honorary award comprises a cash prize of Rs.10, 000, the K. Hirannaiah Endowment award Rs. 5,000, the CGK awards Rs. 3,000 each, and general awards Rs. 5,000 each. Those selected for the awards for 2004 awards are: Amateur theatre: Prasad Rakshadi (director), Renuka Prasad, M.K. Sundar Raj, Saraswathi Chimmalagi (artistes), Dev Nagesh (organiser), Shivaramu, B.M. Basavarajaiah and H.S. Hirannaiah (services).

Professional theatre: Veerashetty Kodli (playwright), G.S. Sangamesh and H.B. Sarojamma (artistes) and D.M. Thotayyaswamy (services). Rural theatre: Sirajuddin of Hassan and Papalu Krishna Rao of Mandya.

Those selected for the awards for 2005 are: Amateur theatre: Manohar (of Washington, U.S.) and Prabhu Guruppanavar (Director), Lakshmanakumar Mallur, M. Ramamurthi, Vishya Jevoor (artistes), Ajjampura Krishnamurthy (organiser), Ramesha Gouda Patil, Natakamane Mahaklingu and B.S. Gavimatha (services). Professional theatre: Basavaraj S. Panchagal (playwright), B. Jaya, Patil Shankara Dattatreya (artistes) and Bodappa Naglikar (services).

Rural theatre: Mehboob M. Sanadi of Bijapur district and R. Gurumurthy of Bangalore Rural district. The CGK awards go to K. Giridhar (Gulbarga), Jeevanram (Sullia), C.M. Narasimhamurthy (Chamrajanagar), Sukumara Mudradi (Udupi) and Sarvesh (Bangalore).

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