<p>Dharwad Rangayana director and noted theatre personality Enagi Nataraj (54) died at a private nursing home in Hubli on Saturday morning following a brief illness.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He is survived by his father nonagenarian theatre personality Enagi Balappa, mother Laxmidevi, wife and two sons.<br /><br />Nataraj was suffering from complications related to liver and kidney and was being treated at a private nursing home for the last few days. <br /><br />The mortal remains of Nataraj were kept on the Rangayana campus in Dharwad for the public to pay their last respects. <br /><br />Dignitaries, artistes, writers and others paid their last respects to the departed theatre activist. The last rites will be performed at his native, Enagi village in Bailhongal taluk of Belgaum district.<br /><br />Nataraj was a gifted actor and he inherited the acting talent from his father Enagi Balappa, who owned a professional theatre company which toured the State. <br /><br />Nataraj’s maiden performance as a child artiste, was in the play ‘Basaveshwara Mahatme.’ He was a trainee from the first batch of Ninasam of Heggodu. <br /><br />Excellent performances<br /><br />He carved a niche for himself through his performances in Kannada plays - ‘Haddu Needida Haadi’, ‘Nata Samrat’, ‘Jagajyoti Basaveshwara’, ‘Burjwa Gentleman’, ‘Policeriddare Echharike’ and ‘Oedipus’ among others. He had started a theatre troupe ‘Mela,’ but it was shortlived. After taking up business for a few years, Nataraj returned to acting and worked with actor-director Nagabharana as an associate for 15 years in cinema. <br /><br />He worked at Rangayana Mysore and Calicut University, Kerala as an acting teacher for a few years before turning to the small screen. Serials ‘Mahanavami’, ‘Sankranti’, ‘Naku Tanti’, ‘Kinnari’ and ‘Idu Entha Lokavayya’ made Nataraj a household name in Karnataka and elsewhere. He has also acted in films ‘Bheema Teeradalli’, ‘Savitri’, ‘Neela’ and ‘Singaravva Mattu Aramane.’<br /><br />He was also a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Karnataka Nataka Academy award. After Dharwad Rangayana was made an autonomous unit, Nataraj was appointed as its director last year.<br /><br />Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar, District In-Charge Minister Jagadish Shettar, MP Prahlad Joshi, MLA Chandrakanth Bellad and others paid tributes to the departed soul.<br /></p>
<p>Dharwad Rangayana director and noted theatre personality Enagi Nataraj (54) died at a private nursing home in Hubli on Saturday morning following a brief illness.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He is survived by his father nonagenarian theatre personality Enagi Balappa, mother Laxmidevi, wife and two sons.<br /><br />Nataraj was suffering from complications related to liver and kidney and was being treated at a private nursing home for the last few days. <br /><br />The mortal remains of Nataraj were kept on the Rangayana campus in Dharwad for the public to pay their last respects. <br /><br />Dignitaries, artistes, writers and others paid their last respects to the departed theatre activist. The last rites will be performed at his native, Enagi village in Bailhongal taluk of Belgaum district.<br /><br />Nataraj was a gifted actor and he inherited the acting talent from his father Enagi Balappa, who owned a professional theatre company which toured the State. <br /><br />Nataraj’s maiden performance as a child artiste, was in the play ‘Basaveshwara Mahatme.’ He was a trainee from the first batch of Ninasam of Heggodu. <br /><br />Excellent performances<br /><br />He carved a niche for himself through his performances in Kannada plays - ‘Haddu Needida Haadi’, ‘Nata Samrat’, ‘Jagajyoti Basaveshwara’, ‘Burjwa Gentleman’, ‘Policeriddare Echharike’ and ‘Oedipus’ among others. He had started a theatre troupe ‘Mela,’ but it was shortlived. After taking up business for a few years, Nataraj returned to acting and worked with actor-director Nagabharana as an associate for 15 years in cinema. <br /><br />He worked at Rangayana Mysore and Calicut University, Kerala as an acting teacher for a few years before turning to the small screen. Serials ‘Mahanavami’, ‘Sankranti’, ‘Naku Tanti’, ‘Kinnari’ and ‘Idu Entha Lokavayya’ made Nataraj a household name in Karnataka and elsewhere. He has also acted in films ‘Bheema Teeradalli’, ‘Savitri’, ‘Neela’ and ‘Singaravva Mattu Aramane.’<br /><br />He was also a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Karnataka Nataka Academy award. After Dharwad Rangayana was made an autonomous unit, Nataraj was appointed as its director last year.<br /><br />Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar, District In-Charge Minister Jagadish Shettar, MP Prahlad Joshi, MLA Chandrakanth Bellad and others paid tributes to the departed soul.<br /></p>