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Designed , developed & Hosted By Kishoo, Barkur |
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AN OBITUARY TO A GREAT DEPARTED SOUL – BUDAN BASHA SAHEB, BARKUR.
While our host was planning to introduce
Shri Budan Saheb, as the next ‘Personality of the Month’, the
shocking news of his sudden death this morning at Hitech Hospital, Udupi,
stunned us. A name synonymous with Barkur, its rich heritage, cultural
wealth, and community living with secular approach and a ‘One man
Institution’ associated with stage programmes in the whole of Coastal
Karnataka and the Malnad Districts, and even beyond, for about 60 years,
is no more amidst us. This
morning he breathed his last, leaving behind, his sorrowing wife and
children, but to us hundreds and thousands varied memories as - a
make-up man, a drama dress-wala, an actor of par excellence, a magician,
mono-act specialist, a mimic, an organiser, a multifaceted artist of
Stage and a human being at large. Born at Barkur in the year 1916, though had his early education, in Islamic standards, later joined the local School at Barkur and accepted Teaching as profession at the same Institution. While in 8th, the young Budan was attracted by the call to art field under the guidance of Birti Govinada Master. His love for stage was so strong and ultimately forced him to leave teaching and to start ‘Shri Panchalingeshwara Nataka Mandala’ at Barkur, in the year 1946 at the age of only 30! From then it is mission like life in acting, directing, to reach the peak of fame!
As
Meer Sadiq in the play Tippu Sultan His roles in Yakshagana plays, like Kamsa Vadhe, Prahlada
Charitre, Sita swayamvara etc were of perfection, and as a mobile drama
company, the following popular plays like, Kalidasa, Chitranagada, Tippu
Sultan, Paduka Pradhana were highly successful and had exhibited in
packed tents, in 50’s and 60’s. In late 70’s and thereafter a new
concept of co-acting, reduced the prominence of make-up men but Budan
Saheb, was successful in finding other sources for his livelihood,
keeping intact his first love for stage and art. Hiring of furniture,
Shamiyana, pendals, cooking utensils, decoration material etc in this
area, supported him economically. The Unity Hall constructed at Kundapur, is a testimony to his universal love as this well equipped auditorium serves the needs of all communities – Hindu, Muslim, Christians etc for any public programme!
Unity
Hall at NH 17, Kundapur Friends, neither me have the stature nor knowledge to write a
fitting obituary to this great man of Barkur, but conclude with this
small note – while we were in the CYM Barkur, we never used to call
Shri Budan Saheb, for make-up, but he used to come to see our dramas,
though they were in Konkanni, but we were hiring Screens and stage sets
for our plays whenever required. This is an incident in the year 1988 May, when Mumbai-kar
Henry D’Silva’s popular Drama, ‘Kazara Upranth’ was on tour in
South Canara and it was Shri Budan Saheb who done make-up for us and me,
as a Priest, when the show was at Brahmmavar, Makkala Mantapa. The show was successful and the days passed. In the year
1993, me happened to visit Shri Budan’s house, that too to return
chairs hired for my marriage, instead of enquiring about the programme
or so, I was taken aback to the un usual question – ‘are you still
acting in plays in Mumbai…..? Yes, friends, for us art is a pastime hobby, but to him, it
was a mission of lifetime, a man we feel not duly recognised and
honoured by the State and Society, for his selfless love and
encouragement to fellow artists! We, at Barkur.com pray to Almighty to grant the departed
soul, eternal peace, and enough strength to the bereaved family to bear
this loss, at this sad moment! On behalf of Barkur.com. P.Archibald
Furtado. Muscat, 29th June 2003. For a series of a very high quality articles covering many subjects, by Mr. Archibald Furtado , go through the archives. Click on the respective subject |
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Barkur, located in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India. 576 210 |
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Copyright Kishoo, Barkur 2002. |
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