R. Nagarathnamma (1926–2012) was an Indian theatre personality and the founder of ''Stree Nataka Mandali'', an all-women theatre group based in Bengaluru. A recipient of the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...

, she was honored by the Government of India, in 2012, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

Biography

Nagarathnamma was born in 1926 in a family with moderate financial means, in Mysore, in the South Indian state of Karnataka. She started working in professional theatre at the age of 12, working with such troupes as Sri Chamundeshwari Nataka Sabha, Gubbi Company run by Gubbi Veeranna, Mitra Mandali of Hirannaiah and HLN Simha. Later, in 1958, Nagarathnamma established ''Stree Nataka Mandali'', reported to be the first all-women theatre troupe from Karnataka where she performed as an actor and was the director of their plays. Nagarathnamma is known for her depiction of male characters, especially mythological ones. She is credited with notable performances as

Kamsa Kamsa ( sa, कंस, Kaṃsa, translit-std=IAST) was the tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom, with its capital at Mathura. He is variously described in Hindu literature as either a human or an asura; The Puranas describe him as an asura, whi ...

, Krishna, Ravana,

Duryodhana Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...

and

Bheema In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Bhima ( sa, भीम, ) is the second among the five Pandavas. The ''Mahabharata'' relates many events that portray the might of Bhima. Bhima was born when Vayu, the wind god, granted a son to Kunti and Pandu. Af ...

. She has travelled in many other states in India with her troupe and ''Krishna Garudi'' is stated to be one of her major plays. She has also acted in 15 Kannada and

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

films, ''Kamanabillu'', ''Parasangada Gendethimma'' and ''Rosapoo Ravikkaikari'' being some of the notable ones. Nagarathnamma died on 6 October 2012, at the age of 87, after a brief period of illness.

Awards and recognitions

Nagarathnamma was a recipient of many awards such as Tagore Ratna Award and Gubbi Veeranna Award. She has been honored by the Government of Karnataka with their second highest civilian award of

Rajyotsava Prashasti The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 November celebrated as t ...

. She received the

in 1992. In 2012, the Government of India included her in the Republic Day honours list for the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri. She is also conferred

Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna and Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Puraskar were given at special events organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi in *Kolkata – Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Samman on 25 April 2012 *Chennai – Sangeet Natak Akademi ...

in 2012 as special awards to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nagarathnamma, R. 1926 births 2012 deaths Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Businesswomen from Karnataka Indian theatre directors Indian theatre managers and producers Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Kannada cinema Indian film actresses Indian women theatre directors Actresses from Mysore Businesspeople from Mysore 20th-century Indian businesspeople 20th-century Indian actresses 20th-century Indian businesswomen Indian stage actresses Actresses in Kannada theatre

Biography

Awards and recognitions

See also

References

Further reading

External links