Thandimane Sripada Bhat | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Doyen of Yakshagana Thandimane Sripada Bhat passed away at a hospital in Mangaluru on Thursday.
He was 63. He is survived by his wife and a son. Bhat was ailing for some time.
A veteran artist of Badagu Thittu school of Yakshagana, Bhat hailed from Koligar village in Sirsi Taluk of Uttara Kannada.
Born on July 20, 1963 he entered Yakshagana theatre at the age of 20.
Groomed in Yakshagana under the tutelage of Hosthota Manjunatha Bhagavatha, Bhat had a unique rich voice which made him distinct from others on the stage.
He had performed in Sirsi Panchalinga Yakshagana Mela, Sirsi Marikamba Mela, Saligrama Mela, Mandarthi Mela and Perdoor Mela.
Bhat performed almost all ‘nayaka’, ‘prathi nayaka’ and ‘khala nayaka’ roles of Yakshagana theatre.
His roles such as Eshwara, Dasharatha, Bheeshma, Salva, Karthaveerya, Yayati, Arjuna, Keechaka, Kamsa, Bharatha, Trishanku, Ravana, Vaali, Bhasmasura, Shumbhasura, Durjaya, Maagadha, Kaurava brought him fame.
Bhat had received many awards including the Yakshagana Kalaranga Award of Udupi’s Yakshagana Kalaranga.
Published - October 15, 2026 09:19 pm IST