Leather puppeteer Khanda Ramadas wins DakshinaChitra award

CHENNAI: Anantpur-based leather puppeteer K S Khande Ramadas has won the DakshinaChitra

Virudhu

, an annual

award

instituted by the Madras Craft Foundation and the Friends of

DakshinaChitra

in 2004 to honour the folk performing artists and groups in recognition for their outstanding and endearing contribution to the field of folk performing arts.

The award consists of a citation and cash of Rs 30,000, said a release from the DakshinaChitra.

“Born into a family of puppeteers, Ramadas is the fourth-generation artiste and was trained by his father and grandfather who were well-known in this form of art. Ramadas has been performing since the age of 12 for more than four decades and has also trained many youngsters from more than 200 centres in his town,” said the release.

Being a recipient of Andhra Pradesh State award and Ajaysankar award from New Delhi for his performance, Ramadas has been running the “Kanakadurga Thollubomala Panivayala Samshema Sangam” along with his family and the troupe, it said. “These puppets are highly revered, and they last for almost 150 years and has been handed down through generations.”

The award recognizes both the artist’s excellence in a folk performing art and his efforts in sustaining and promoting the art form. The recommendation for the troupes from the four southern states comes from experts in the field of performing arts and then vetted by a jury.

The award will be presented to Ramadas at DakshinaChitra, Muttukadu, at 4pm on Saturday (Dec 12) followed by a performance by him and his troupe.


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