The world of Yakshagana, the traditional theater form of Karnataka, has lost a great personality. Subrahmanya DhareshwarA senior and famous Yakshagana ‘Bhagavat’ (background singer) passed away in Bengaluru. He was 66 years old.
Life dedicated to Yakshagana
Born on September 5, 1957, at Kirimanjeshwar in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district, Dhareshwar belonged to a family with deep connections to Yakshagana. His father, Lakshminarayan Bhatt, was an amateur Yakshagana artiste, which instilled in him a passion for the art from an early age.
a disciple of great men
Dhareshwar was a disciple of the great Yakshagana ‘Bhagavata’ late Naranappa Uppura. He entered the world of professional Yakshagana singing at the age of 21 and enthralled the audience with his melodious and rich voice.
filling a void
After the untimely demise of the legendary Yakshagana ‘Bhagavat’ Kalinga Nawada in 1990, Dhareshwar filled the void created in the Badagu Thittu (Southern) school of Yakshagana, carrying forward the rich tradition with his extraordinary talent.
a decorated career
A recipient of the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Dhareshwar was a professional ‘Bhagavatam’ for nearly four decades. He performed with famous Yakshagana melas (touring troupes) like Amriteshwari, Hiremahalingeshwar, Panchalinga and Perdoor. Even after his retirement as ‘Pradhan Bhagavat’ (lead singer) from the Perdoor Yakshagana Mela, he continued to grace various Yakshagana shows and ‘Talamdalez’ (traditional Yakshagana singing programmes) till recently.
a legacy of melody
Dhareshwar’s melodious voice and rich performances earned him hundreds and thousands of fans across Karnataka and beyond. His demise marks the end of an era, leaving a void in the Yakshagana world that will be difficult to fill.
