Kundapur (Karnataka): Yakshagana singer Subramanya Dhareshwar (67), who earned the fame of ‘Bhagwat Shrestha’ for his magnificent voice, died in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Family sources said he died in the morning at his son’s home in Bengaluru after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife, son and a daughter.
He was honored to fill the void created after the departure of Kalinga Navada, who had created a new wave in Yakshagana in the Badguthittu version.
Subrahmanya Dhareshwar had served for 46 years in the field of Yakshagana, a unique dance form of coastal Karnataka that involves distinctive singing, dancing and drama style that resembles the Theyyam art form of the neighboring state of Kerala.
Dhareshwar had worked as the lead singer for 28 years in Perdoor Mela alone and before that he started his journey at Amriteshwari Mela.
As a disciple of Upparu Naranappa Bhagavata he sang in thousands of Yakshagana ballets conducted all over Karnataka and in some other states and in some other countries.
A contemporary of the eminent Yakshagana singer Kalinga Nawada, Dhareshwar had sung in Yakshagana episodes presented by top artistes like Chittani Ramachandra Hegde, Gode Narayan Hegde, Krishna Yaji Ballur, Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde and many others.
Born in Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district in 1957, he practiced and performed music.
The news about ‘Bhagwat Shrestha’ sent a shock wave among Yakshagana lovers, many of whom used to attend Yakshagana programs to hear his songs.
He was a source of inspiration for many young Yakshagana enthusiasts, who like him loved to sing in a loud and thunderous voice that would sometimes give goosebumps to his audiences.
Condoling his demise, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he was saddened by the news of the demise of the famous Yakshagan Bhagwat Subramanya Dhareshwar of the coastal region.
Dhareshwar, who entertained art lovers with his melodious voice for 45 years, is known for his experiments in Yakshagana singing, he said.
