By Purushottam Bilimale

New Delhi, April 28 (ANI): Noted Yakshagana artiste, Chende and Maddale player Chipparu Krishnayya Ballal passed away on Monday while performing a Chouki Puja, a ritual worship performed in the green room before the main performance in Bangalore. He was 80.

Ballal, who came to Bangalore on April 24 as a member of the Edaneeru troupe for a weeklong programme in various parts of the city, performed till Sunday.

On Monday, when the performance (Jambavathi Kalyana-Veera Abhimanyu) was to commence in the evening at a branch of Shri Edneer Mutt at Koramangala, Bangalore, Ballal complained of chest pain and breathed his last. Popularly known as Chipparu all over Yakshagana land Shri Chipparu Krishnayya Ballal, who had been a prominent Chende and Maddale player for over six decades, remained active till the end.

It is said that Ballal was gifted with magical fingers to produce Yakshagana music. He began performing his performance in Mulki Mela and then joined and worked for Dharmasthala troupe for over 35 years.

Born on April 2, 1928 at a small place called Bayaru, he started learning Maddale with Pandit Taltaje Keshava Bhat and subsequently moved to Kotekar, near Mangalore to learn Mrudanga from Vidwan Babu Rai.

Later, Mr. Chippar along with Kadatoka Manjunata Bhagawat and Vidwan Damodara Mandecha created history on stage with their brilliant innovations and creativity.

Great artists like Putturu Narayana Hegde, Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, K. Govinda Bhat, Empekatte Ramayya Rai, Puttur Shridhara Bhandari, Sampaje Sheenappa Rai and many more were all influenced by his Chende while performing on stage.

Ballal excelled in Jodata (Twin shows) where the competition is the essence.

According to Ballal, Yakshagana music is an independent tradition, but developed as a powerful theatrical medium capable of expressing the whole gamut of human emotions.

Ballal’s understanding of Yakshagana’s tala, Raga shruti, and laya were exceptional. He believed that Yakshagana music is a medium in which the emotive and aesthetic functions could be communicated easily to the rural audience.

Ballal received many awards that included Karnataka Lalita Kala Academy award and Kerala Kala academy award.

Among his fans and admirers Ballal will always remain an unforgettable memory as a great Yakshagana artiste. He will always be remembered for his magical fingers. (ANI)