Brahmavara: Veteran Yakshagana artiste Pethri Madhav Naik passes away

Team Udayavani, Jun 5, 2024, 5:40 PM IST

Brahmavara: Veteran Yakshagana Badagutittu artiste, Petri Madhav Naik, passed away on Wednesday. He was 84 years old.

Born in 1940 to Vaman Naik and Maida Bai in Haluvalli near Pethri, Brahmavara Taluk, Madhav Naik began his journey in Yakshagana under the revolutionary guidance of his uncle, Thimmappa Naik, an expert Maddale player.

Under the mentorship of Thimmappa Naik, Madhav Naik became a beloved artiste, known for his extensive experience in the field of Yakshagana. He further honed his skills in dance under the guidance of renowned artists of that era, Bhagavata Tenginajeddu Ramachandra Raya and Gorpadi Vitthal Patil.

At the young age of 14, he joined the Maranakatte troupe and performed in various roles in the Saligrama, Perdoor, Mulki, and Amruteshwari troupes for 30 years, delivering significant artistic contributions.

Through the Yakshagana Kendra in Udupi, he popularized Yakshagana. Gaining the appreciation of Dr. Shivaram Karanth, he joined his troupe and toured several countries, including Dubai, Canada, Japan, Russia, Italy, and various European nations, captivating audiences worldwide.

Madhav Naik was celebrated for his performances in roles such as Bahuka, Ghatotkacha, and Shoorpanakha, mesmerizing foreign audiences with his portrayal of various demon characters. He often reminisced about how Yakshagana and Dr. Shivaram Karanth enabled him, a village boy who never attended college, to travel abroad.

He performed to the tunes of many renowned Bhagavatas such as Maravanthe Narasimha Das, J Gopalakrishna Kamath, Narnappa Uppoor, Gundmi Ramachandra Navada, Kalinga Navada, Mariyappachar, Matyadi Narasimha Shetty, and Neelavara Ramakrishnayya.

Madhav Naik mastered the now-rare traditional Chitte makeup for ‘Rakshasa’ roles. Senior art enthusiasts remember his contribution to maintaining this tradition.

He received numerous honors, including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award. Just a week ago, he was rightfully awarded the Keertishesha Haradi Rama Ganiga Award at Shri Kshetra Mandarthi. His passing signifies the loss of a crucial link in the tradition of Yakshagana.

Numerous Yakshagana enthusiasts and dignitaries have expressed their deep condolences on his demise.