Udyavara Madhava Acharya

Udyavara Madhava Acharya (25 March 19417 December 2020) was an Indian orator, short story writer, poet, and theatre artist. He is credited with modernisation of the traditional theatre form of Yakshagana. Some of his noted works include Baagida Mara , Rangasthalada Kanavarikegalu , and Nenapadalu Shakunthale . He was a recipient of the Karnataka state Rajyotsava Award in 1999 and the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1970.

Early life Acharya was born on 25 March 1941, in Udupi district, Madras Presidency, British India (now the southern Indian state of Karnataka). His father D. Lakshmi Narayana Acharya was a Sanskrit lecturer in the Madras Presidency. His father was the author of the Sanskrit book, Rasavilasa. His mother, U. Lalita Lakshmi specialised in local arts and was an influence on his uptake of performing arts. During his childhood, Acharya was exposed to arts from the region including Yakshagana, Kola, Nagamandala, and Dhakkebali. After completing his primary education in Kalyanpura, Udupi, he completed his Bachelor of Arts from MGM college in Udupi, and went on to get a Master's degree in Economics from Bangalore University. He would go onto retire as a Principal from the BB College in Kundapur. Along with his theatre groups Sahana and Saketa Kalavidaru, he is credited with modernisation of the South-Indian dance drama form Yakshagana. Some of his experimental and acclaimed theatre works included Shabari (based on Shabari from the Indian epic Ramayana) and Matte Raman Kathe . He had directed the dance dramas Urvashi (based on the Apsara Urvashi) and Nenapadalu Shakunthale . In addition to performing in India, his theatre group had also performed in the United States. His short story Baagida Mara won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1970.

Personal life Acharya was married and had three daughters and a son. He died on 7 December 2020 at the Kasturba Medical Hospital, aged 79.

Short story collections Baagida Mara (Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award, 1970) Bhaagadoddammana Kathe Nidu Patheyavanu Silu Bidirina Sillu Hadi: Hattu sanna kathegalu

Essay collections Ranga Prabandhagalu Nrithya prabandhagalu Yaksha Prabandhagalu Sahithya Spandana (essays on different literary figures including Pu. Ti. Na, Kuvempu, Karanth, Sediyapu)

Collections of poems Rangasthalada Kanavarikegalu Hu Midi Hadu (for children) Radhe Emba Gathe Bhishma Sathyavrithanadaddu Stabdha Dakshayini Hamsanaada ''