Chittani Ramachandra Hegde

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is a Yakshagana artist from Honnavara, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. He was awarded with Padmashri award, first such award to any Yakshagana artist, by Government of India.

He is much famed for 'kaurava','dustabuddi' 'Bhasmasura','keechaka','maghada','karna','rudrakopa' 'kamsa' roles in Yakshagana performance and his style is popularly known as CHITTANI STYLE.

Shri Chittani Ramachandra Hegde (ಶ್ರೀ ಚಿಟ್ಟಾಣಿ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ ಹೆಗಡೆ )

Hailed as a living legend of Yakshagana, Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is the first Yakshagana artist to win the prestigious Padmashri award before winning several awards in Karnataka. His style is so popular that it was called Chittani Gharana.

He started his Yakshagana career when he was just 7 years old, after dropping out of School when he was still studying in II Standard. He started performing in main roles when he was just 14 years old and still performs on stage even though he is 82 now. He hails from Uttara Kannada district and is popularly known as Chittani among his huge fan-base.

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde was born and brought up in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. He practiced badaguthittu style of Yakshagana.

In spite of stiff resistance from family members, he started giving Yakshagana performances at the age of 15 and still continues to act at the age of 83.

Chittani perfected the Yakshagana performance to such a level, where he is considered as "a finest example of what one could achieve in life with hard work and achievements."Chittani has been considered one of the top yakshagana artists in India and he has performed yakshagana all over India and abroad.

He is a living legend of the art. Even today he performs on stage better than any younger artist. The ever lasting concrete experience on stage has enabled him to master even the most vigorous and tough character of the art, he added.

First Padmashri award for Yakshagana

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is the first artist performing Yakshagana, to receive prestegeious Padmas Shri award and he dedicated the award to "Yakshagana".

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde is awarded with Padma Shri award in 2012, by Ministry of Home affairs, Government of India. He got K. Shivaram Karanth award in 2009 by Kotathattu grama panchayat, Karnataka.

Week long yakshagana performances in his name, styled "Chittani Yaksha Sambhrama" is conducted by his admirers at Mangalore every year.