Chittani Ramachandra Hegde

Early life

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde was born in 1933 in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.He practised badaguthittu style of Yakshagana.

In spite of stiff resistance from family members, he started giving Yakshagana performances at the age of 15 and still continues to act at the age of 83.

Yakshagana performances

Chittani perfected the Yakshagana performance to such a level, where he is considered as "the finest example of what one could achieve in life with hard work and achievements.Chittani has been considered one of the top yakshagana artists in India and he has performed yakshagana all over India and abroad.He is a living legend of the art. Even today he performs on stage better than any younger artist. The ever lasting concrete experience on stage has enabled him to master even the most vigorous and tough character of the art, he added.

Yakshagana and Chittani Ramachandra Hegde

The Yakshagana style of Badagu Titti is probably the most creative form of expression among the Navarasa arts. This style of Yakshagana has a variety and uniqueness associated with it that is not found in the other forms of Yakshagana like Tenku, Moodalapaya, Paduvalapaya and Doddata. It is not an easy job to perform the Badagu Titti style of Yakshagana on stage, which is probably why the number of artistes practising this style is also only a handful.

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is one of the few names that Badagu Titti brings to mind.The Badagu style of Yakshagana is the coming together of dialogue, dance and acting. When all the three aspects are in the right proportion, the character that is portrayed comes out as required. This style of Yakshagana provides a great scope for the growth of the character portrayed. In fact Yakshagana is one art that provides a huge canvas for the characters to come to life. Probably no other art form offers that scope. As a result, the growth of the artiste means the growth of the character and hence the growth of the art itself.

Wearing anklets on his feet and having dedicated more than five to five and a half decades of his life to Yakshagana, Chittani is an artist of very high calibre. Although the skill sets required for talk now evades him, the rest of the skills required for this type of Yakshagana have surely benefited from him. Chittani knows no world other than Yakshagana. Even at this ripe old age, not a single day is complete without Chittani tying anklets to his feet for the dance.Chittani is also known for his generous and encouraging attitude especially towards his fellow artists.

Chittani grew up to the sounds of the Chande and Maddale. Yakshagana is very active through the year in North and South Canara and Shimoga district. Chittani, influenced by this environment since childhood, gave up his studies after class two and ever since

has devoted all his time towards learning and perfecting the art of Yakshagana.

Having learnt the intricacies of the art from a number of troupes and artistes like Shivarama Hegde and Kondadakuli Rama Hegde, Chittani soon rose to the level of playing the lead roles. Whichever troupe that Chittani became part of, had nothing to worry as all the shows ran to packed houses whenever Chittani performed. It would not amount to exaggeration if one were to say that Chittani is the only 'box office hero' in the history of Yakshagana.

According to his fans, some of the characters portrayed by Chittani have actually been created by him. Bhasmasura-Mohini's Bhasmasura, Gadhayudda's Kaurava,Sudhanvarjuna's Arjuna as well as Sudhanva, Keechaka, Jarasandha, Karthaveeryarjuna, Dushtabuddhi,Maghagada,kamsa,kaladara,Rudrakopa among others, are characters which he mastered. He has grown with the characters he portrayed and the characters too have grown with him.Chittani is more of an entertaining artist. In fact, many of the critics are of the view that there is hardly any scope for a critical analysis of his performances. Keechaka Kamuka, that Chittani produced, and his character of Bhasmasura, many critics feel, was a greater portrayal of the 'Rakshasa' in Bhasmasura, rather than a man who suffered parental

disinterest in him.

The kind of life that Chittani breathes into the character of Bhasmasura while performing on stage is unparalleled.The portrayal of the character of Bhasmasura-the most unwanted man, on stage, it appears cannot be done in a similar fashion by anyone else other than Chittani.

Chittani's greatest plus points are his dancing and acting abilities. While portraying emotional sequences are not necessarily Chittani's strong point, it is his presentation of anger, shringara or fear, that brings him to the forefront.Chittani has his own troupe which has grown with the artist. His two sons, Subramanya Chittani and Narasimha Chittani, are already following in the footsteps of their father and pursuing the art.

First Padmashri award for Yakshagana

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is the first artist performing Yakshagana, to receive prestegeious Padmashri award and he dedicated the award to "Yakshagana".

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde Photos

Recognitions and awards

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is awarded with Padma Shri award in 2012, by Ministry of Home affairs, Government of India.

He got K. Shivaram Karanth award in 2009 by Kotathattu grama panchayat, Karnataka.

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is awarded with Janapadashri Award in 2004.

Shri Chittani Ramachandara Hegde received KEREMANE SHIVARAMA HEGDE AWARD in 2013.

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is awarded Rajyotsava Prashasti award in 1991.

KARKI VENKATARAMANA SHASTRI SURI AWARD in 2009

Aryabhata International award by Aryabhata cultural Organization for immense contribution in field of Yakshagana

Alva's Nudisiri Award–2012.

Admirers

Week long yakshagana performances in his name, styled "Chittani Yaksha Sambhrama" is conducted by his admirers at Mangalore every year.