Gangadhara Devaadiga Kadri, an 81‑year‑old veteran who has donned the tiger costume for more than 55 years, was presented with the Chavadi Thammana award by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy on Sunday in Mannagudda, Mangalore.
The ceremony took place at the premises of D.K.G. P. Senior Primary School, organised with the help of the school’s alumni association. Mangalore City Development Authority President Santosh Shetty handed over the honour and highlighted that the recent declaration of Tulu as the state’s second official language elevates the cultural standing of Tulunadu.
Tarunath Gatti, president of the academy and also the head of Kapikad, praised Pili Annu for preserving a rare folk tradition. He noted that senior tiger‑costume bearers like him have made an “unparalleled” contribution to Tulunadu’s folk art.
During the event, Pili Annu shared personal reflections on his decades‑long involvement with the tiger costume, underscoring the ritual’s significance in local celebrations.
Additional remarks came from Shalet Pinto, chairman of the Karnataka Environment and Tourism Development Board, and Sureshchandra Shetty, president of the Mannagudda school alumni group. Representatives of cultural clubs – Yajneshwar Barkey of Barke Friends, Rakshit Kottari of Ballal Bhag Friends – and school principal Nalini P. Shetty were also in attendance.
The programme was hosted by Satish Shetty. Ganesh Adyapadi read a tribute letter, after which Ganesh Kumar offered a formal salute. The gathering concluded with a sense that the recognition of Pili Annu marks a broader affirmation of Tulunadu’s traditional arts within the state’s evolving linguistic landscape.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK