Prakash Raj, Kamala Hampana among Sandesha Awardees

Prakash Raj, Kamala Hampana among Sandesha Awardees MANGALURU: Actor Prakash Raj, writer Kamala Hampana, folk singer K Yuvaraj, musician Anil Patrao are among the prominent names selected for Sandesha Awardsfor the year 2017.The jury headed by writer Na D'Souza also selected sculptor John Devaraj and Mother Teresa Memorial Education Trust for the Sandesha Special Recognition

and Sandesha Education awards respetively. The awards will be presented at a function to be held on January 31. Announcing the names of awardees on Wednesday, Na D'Souza, said 81-year-old Kamala Hampana has been selected for the award recognizing her contribution to Kannada literature as a researcher, critic, biographer, radio playwright, novelist and a writer of children's literature. National award winning actor Prakash Rai has been selected for Sandesha Media award. Born in a Tulu family, Prakash has gone on to become an established multilingual film actor. Describing him as a versatile actor, D'Souza, said Prakash's acting acumen can be gauged by the ease with which he slips into different characters.

Born in 1956, Yuvaraj, the winner of Sandesha Art award, has served as a lecturer and principal of a college in Shivamogga for three decades. A popular folk singer, Yuvaraja has a huge collection of folk songs from different parts of Karnataka. Describing him as a man gifted with unique folk voice, Na D'Souza, said Yuvaraj, to his credit, has above 1,500 performances within and outside Karnataka.

Anil Patrao, selected for Konkani Music award, began his music journey at the age of four. At 12, he started giving public performances. As a choir master of Derebail Church, he has trained many aspiring musicians A composer of over 200 songs, Anil has presented several musical evenings along with his brother John Patrao under the banner Patrao Nite.

John Devaraj, a civil engineer, selected for Sandesha Special Recognition award, is a versatile personality. He is a sculptor, architect, puppeteer, actor, dramatist, cameraman, art director, film producer and an advisor to several organisations. His achievements include a mural in New York, a 25-feet tall anti-fascist memorial in Austria, a 22-feet tall terracotta statue in Lalbagh, Bengaluru and a huge picture for Pakistani children.

Renita Lobo and Shamita Rao, who run the Mother Teresa Memorial Education Trust have been selected for Sandesha Education award. Renita and Shamita ventured in to a task of starting a school in a remote village of Shankaranarayana in Udupi district, 30-kms from Kundapur. Started with kindergarten , the institution is now providing education upto intermediate level, Na D'Souza said.

D'souza said that the jury selected the awardees strictly on merit and not on recommendation from any quarter or inviting applications. Most Rev Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Ballari and founder of Sandesha will present the awards, he said. Rev Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director of the foundation, Ronald S A Castelino, and Vincent Mascarenhas, trustees, were present.