: Veteran Yakshagana artiste Arate Manjunatha,who had specialised in performing female characters in Yakshagana art died at his residence near Kundapur last evening.
He was 73.
Manjunatha who was in ill health for the past seven years, is survived by wife, a son and two daughters.
He started his career at the age of 13 with comic roles in the Maranakatte troupe.
In a career spanning five and a half decades, he became part of various troupes like Suratkal, Mulki, Keremane, Rajarajeshwari, Mandarti, Kamalashile, Kollur, Saligrama, and others.
He had donned the roles of many female characters like Dakshayani, Prabhavati, Ambe, Shridevi, Chandramati, Subhadra, Mohini, besides male roles like Krishna and Ashwatthama.
As founder of Ganesha Pravasi Yakshagana Samsthe, he recognised the services of senior Yakshagana artistes and provided guidance to many juniors in the field..
He had also received the state award, Janapada Academy award,Kannada Sahitya Parishat award, Prof B V Acharya award from Yakshagana Kalaranga in Udupi and Nittoor Bojappa Suvarna award among others.
