Sculptor Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah, Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa among 12 achievers

Madikeri: The annual awards and book awards conferred by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy have been announced and 12 achievers will receive the honours this year. 

Academy Chairperson Dr. Ammatanda Parvathi Appaiah said that the awards function will be held at Kodava Samaja in Makkandur on Sept. 12. The annual awards event could not be held last year due to the pandemic and the awards for both years will be presented on Sept. 12.

Madikeri MLA M.P. Appachu Ranjan will inaugurate the programme. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLC M.P. Sunil Subramani, MLC Veena Achaiah and others will take part in the event. 

The honorary awardees for the present year are: Monnanda Shobha Subbaiah and Badakadammanda Kasturi Govinda Mayya (literature), late Kameyanda C. Ayyanna and Bottolanda Kali Achaiah (art), Kambiranda Cauvery Ponnappa (research) and Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah (sculpture).

The annual book awards will be presented for ‘Pojang,’ a collection of poems by Bacharaniyanda P. Appanna and Ranu Appanna, ‘Mahavira Achunayaka’, a novel by Kadyamada Reeta Bopaiah, ‘Badk Pinja Dechavva,’ a play by Addanda C. Cariappa, ‘Nadapeda Asha,’ a novel by Nagesh Kaluru, ‘Nanga Daar Kodava’ by Maletira Seethamma Vivek and ‘Nataka Ranga’ by Uluvangada Cauvery Uday.

The honorary awards will comprise a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each while the book awards comprise Rs. 25,000 each. Kodava thesaurus ‘Pala Pajel Kodava Takk’ will also be released on the occasion. There are 5,000 words and descriptions that have been given in Kannada, Hindi and English. 

Multi-dimensional sculpting

Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah, known for his multi-dimensional sculpting — a specialised genre which seems to be a single statue but actually has several more angles to it — said that finally the Kodava Sahitya Academy has given him an award. “I thought I would not receive the Academy Award in my lifetime. I am glad that they have recognised my work at last,” he told Star of Mysore. 

The sculptor regretted that many genuine achievers in the Kodava community have not got their due recognition though there are awards for other communities despite their achievements being minor. 

Kiran’s sculpture is unique where each side is carved in such a way that the subject on one side does not interfere with the subjects on the other, yet the correlation is aesthetically brought out. 

His house on New Sayyaji Rao Road near Bamboo Bazaar in Mysuru is a one-of-its-kind Sculpture Museum aptly named ‘Shilpaniketana.’ 

[Note: Star of Mysore had featured Kiran Subbaiah in its Weekend Star Supplement titled ‘Sculptures’ on Dec. 20, 2008]

Prescribed as textbook

Speaking to Star of Mysore on being chosen for the book award, Addanda C. Cariappa, who is the present Rangayana Mysuru Director, said he was happy that his literary work has been recognised by the Academy. “The play ‘Badk’ has seen more than 70 shows. Also the book ‘Badk Pinja Dechavva’ has been prescribed as a text book by the Kodava Sahitya Academy. The actual play and the book are different in the performance and literary aspects. While the play is purely performance-oriented, the book is a hardcore literary work,” he said and added that  ‘Dechavva’ is another play in the book. 

 Six plays

Uluvangada Cauvery Uday said that her book ‘Nataka Ranga’ is a collection of six plays that is a combination of historic and social themes that give a message to the society. There are humorous plays too. “I used to perform in many plays at Sambhrama Ladies Club in T. Shettigeri, South Kodagu. These plays were written for many cultural events and now I have compiled the same into a book that has got the award,” she said.