Madhvaraj Umarji

On November 7, 1914, in Bilagi, Madhvaraj Umarji was born to Shree Govindacharya and Smt. Bheemabai. They had a natural right to worship and sing devotional songs since they were a traditional, God-fearing family. Since Madhvaraj was the youngest, he was very close to his mother and was always humming religious tunes that his mother had taught him. 

Tammanna Bhat, a teacher and the father of the renowned author Krishnmoorty Puranik, gave a shape to the devotional songs of Madhvaraj.

When he was in school, Madhvaraj became more interested in music and singing than completing exams. In Salotagi, the play "shamantakhopakyana," in which Madhvaraj played the lead role, was performed. Because of this mindset, he had a very tough time passing his SSLC in Bilagi in 1933. He maintained farming instead of becoming a teacher and associated with Radhabai and Mansur Mahalinamani, two other artists in Bilagi. He relocated to Hubballi and followed Shri Gundachar Mannur's instructions.

The director of the Indian Art Music School, Shree Mahaveer Kasturi, recognised Madhvaraj and extended an invitation to join his institution. On July 19, 1935, Madvaraj joined as well. Because of his focus, he was skilled in playing the flute, harmonium, tabala, jalataranga, and other instruments, in addition to singing. He had practice from 7 to 10 am and singing from 5 to 10 evening. The remaining time was spent by teaching students.

On December 27, 1935, a musical conference was planned for Mumbai's Sir Kasaji Jahangeer Hall, where he was employed as a secretary. His musical programme including the flute was expanded to include Pune, Sollapur, Vijayapura, Gadag, Bengaluru, Mysore, Chennai, etc. In 1936, he went back to Bilagi and joined Amirbai and Goharjan, two more enormous personalities.

He performed a hero role for the Bagyodaya Company in 1937, and the owner gave him the honour of becoming "Natasamrat." His proficiency earned him the title of "Shreshta Nata of Karnataka" when he joined the Dattatreya Sangeeta Naataka Mandali. "Jaya Karnataka Natya Sangha" is what he joined. In addition to this, he also performed in Kandagal Hanamatraya's "Chitrangada, Raktaratri, Akshayanjura, Kuarukshetra, etc." He has performed in the plays Basaveshwar and Kanakadas. He used to play the part and bring the character to life. He worked with the Udupi-based Shastra Drama Company and the Garuda Sadashivaraya Drama Company from Gadag. He appeared in the Kannada films Basaveshwar and Kanakadas, however the movies have not been released because of financial issues.

Madhvaraj was the First Kannadiga to perform/sang for Columbia Recording Company. They recorded six songs for his plays Renuka, Akkamahadevi, and Basaveshwar. He wanted to appear in English and Hindi movies. But he passed away at a young age on April 28, 1952, in Hanagal.

Diwakar Ranganath Ramchandra

Ranganath Ramchandra Diwakar was born on September 30, 1894, in Bilagi. He received his education at Belgaum and Hubli, graduated from Fergusson College in Poona in 1916, received his M.A. in 1918, and then accepted a position as a professor of English at Rajaram College in Kolhapur.

He graduated from law school in 1921, which gave him the confidence to start participating in public life by joining the Non-Cooperation Movement. 

In 1923, he founded the weekly publication "Karmaveera," rose to the position of editor of the Kannada monthly magazine "Kasturi," and served as editor of the English weekly "Nava Shakti." From 1926 to 1929, he served as the Karnataka Provincial Congress Committee's secretary before taking over as president until 1934.

In 1930, he took part in the movement for salt(Uppina Satyagraha). He assumed control of the daily news publication "Samyukta Karnataka" in 1935.

In 1942, his involvement in the "Quit India" campaign was particularly important. He joined the Congress Constitution Committee in 1945 and was appointed as secretary of the Karnataka Province Congress Parliamentary Board. In 1946, he was chosen to represent Bombay Province in the Constituent Assembly. 

And in the year 1948, he became one of the Indian Parlimentary observers to the 37^th session of the Inter Parliamentary Union Conference in Rome. He was the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Nehru cabinet from 1 April 1949 to 15 April 1952. Diwakar was elected as member of the Rajya Sabha from Bombay State on 3 April 1952 but resigned on 13 June 1952, within a few months when was appointed as the Governor of Bihar and served till 1957.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 and remained there till 1968.  After 1968, he distanced himself from politics and wrote several books in English, Kannada, Sanskrit and Hindi.  His books on the lives of Sri Aurobindo, Paramahamsa, Sri Ramakrishna and Bhagawan Buddha in this series have become extremely popular.  The first one was translated in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada and Bengali.

R. R. Diwakar was a nationalist, philosopher, and scholar, to put it briefly. His writings in Kannada and English are reflections of his understanding of yoga, culture, and philosophy. He served as s the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee  also. 

At his death on 15 January 1990, he was the last surviving member of the first Nehru cabinet. 

Basappa Bagali

Basappa Siddappa Bagali born on April 27, 1916 in Bilagi, Bagalkot district, completed his primary school in Bilagi and joined Govt. high school in Vijayapur.

He skipped the inter examination due to financial issues. Since he was not able to continue his studies, he got frustrated and left to Mumbai. He met Barrister Sawarkar there, listened to his counsel, and decided to join the British Indian Army rather than fight for independence. The harassment by British to Indian persons was intolerable. However  Basappa was detained and sent to Singapore Jail during the Second World War.

The negotiations between Subhash Chandra Bose and the Tojo-led Japanese government produced fruitful results, and all the detainees were freed. He entered the Indian National Academy established by Subhash Chandra Bose and joined the front line and officers' cadre after completing his training because the miseries he endured under the Britishers inspired him to serve his country.

British people were shaken by the patriotism, passion, and spirit of achieving freedom, but this did not last long due to the British people's superior military technology and physical prowess. Basappa was thus detained, imprisoned in several locations, and subjected to unrelenting torture. Ultimately, he spent more than five years being held in a small town in Bangladesh.

Due to his prolonged disappearance, he was deemed deceased i.e. he was declared as dead (missing for long time). His release came in 1946. One day after India gained its freedom in 1947, he visited his village and ran into his relatives. In Wadi near Solapur, Basappa began working for the railway department as a station master.

He initiated the provision of basic amenities including drinking water, street lighting, and a road at the settlement of independence warriors in Vijayapur. He lived at Vijayapur for the last two decades of his life. He was spiritual, lost everything but never lost hope to live. Before he passed away, Basappa instructed his grandson, "Give happiness to everyone, serve everyone, that should be your life's motto."

Kanthi Hanumantharaya

Kanthi Hanumantharaya was a writer, novlist, poet and drama artist. Kanthi  Basappa and Basalingamma gave birth to Hanumantharaya at Nagaral - Bilgi taluk on February 1st, 1929. 

He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Karnataka University. And B.Ed. from Mysore University, which was essential for teaching professiony. 

He taught at Koppal Gavisiddeshwar Middle School in 1952, Shree Siddeshwar High School in Biligi as an assistant teacher from 1953 to 1984, Gurudev Atmanand Girls High School in Ramadurg as headmaster from 1985 to 1990, Kanakadas Girls High School in Konnur as headmaster from 1993 to 1996, and Indo-Japan Friendship Academy Casmoniketan High School in Buranpur, Vijaypur district as headmaster from 1996 to present.(1996–1988); Neelambika High School, Bilagi, Headmaster (1999-2001).

 In addition to becoming a teacher, Hanumantaraya worked as a playwright, actor, and stagehand. In 1950, his two essays, Devata and Vidhava, were published in the Taranga monthly journal. Two further tales: Kusuma and Pramileya Swayamvara were published in the 1950 issue of Kalpana, a monthly publication. 

In addition to Lord Siddeshwar of Bilagi and Lord Maruteshwar of Kambagi, hymns and devotional melodies of Lord Digambereshwara of Nagaral were also issued on cassettes.

Five dramas have been published by him, namely, Mangalagouri, Sindhoor Lakshmana, Madayyana Magalu, Guru Shodhane and Basavanna Belagida Belaku. Kombu appeared as compilation of poems and Honyal Desgati as a novel. Sindhoor Lakshman, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna and Veerapatni appeared in Aakashavaani and Television.

 

The following are notable articles regarding Rangabhoomi: 

1. How to continue in the profession of Rangabhoomi-published in Smarana Sanchike, Ranga Basinga
2.  Equality between professional Rangabhoomi and amateur Rangabhoomi - published in Smarana Sanchike, Kallusakkari.
3. Stage tradition of Bagalkot district- published in Chalukya Siri
4. Present problems of Rangabhoomi-published in Smarana Sanchike, Krishna Prabhe
5. Rangabhoomi and Bilagi Taluka- published in Samarasya
6. Evolution in drama theatre profession- An article presented in state level gathering of artists held in Ilkal.
7. About theatres- published in Vrittiranga Bhoomiya Vartamanada Savaalugalu
8. Bagalkot Jilla Darshan – Chief Editor of the book.

Hanumantaraya wrote the theatre scripts listed below: Bhagyamandira, Chinnada Sara, Bahaaddoor Ganda, Shobha Raani, Kadlimatti Kashibai, Ee Maneya Sose, Police Inspector, Factory Manager, Ninage Nannaani, Garud Rekhe, Goudru Bandru Goudru, Naanu Mukhandanaaguve, and Shala Shiksaka.

The screenplays for the monoplay dramas Sunkada Katte, Veera Viragini, and Namma Shaleya Samaramba were written by Hanumantaraya.

Hemaraddi Mallamma(Role of actress), Paaduka Pattabhisheka, Black Market, Maataanga Kanya, Deepadaana, Bhagya Mandira, Veera Abhimanyu(role of actress), Satya Sankalpa(role of actress), Badatanada Bhoota, Kunkuma, Kaanchana Mruga, and Bahaddoor Ganda were among the dramas in which Shree Hanamantaraya appeared in the acting capacity.

Role played in Monoacting: Motar Maarika, Howharida Harishchandra, and Nadumaneyalli. 

The following conferences are chaired by Shree Kanthi Hanamantaraya:

1. The Kalavida Sammelana, which took place at Naavalagi in August 2007.

2.  Third Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Badami during March 2011 

Awards:

1.  Vijayapur Jilla Kannada Rajyostava Prashasti in 1995.

2.  Kannada Rajyostava Rajya Prashasti in 2014

3.  Honorary Fellowship (from the Karnataka Academy during 2000)

4.  Naataka Ratna (2012)

5.  Devara Daseemayya & Rashtreeya Ratna in 2014

The world of Kannada literature lost his son on 09.06.2021

Krishnamoorthy Puranik

Krishnamoorthy Puranik (5 September 1911 – 12 November 1985) was an Indian writer and poet who wrote in Kannada. He was the principal of a government high school in Gokak and was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for his work Mannina Magalu (Daughter of the Soil). 

On September 5, 1911, in Bilagi, Krishnamoorthy Puranik was born to Tammanna Shastree and Lakshmi Bai. This was a traditional poor Brahmin family interested in the traditional songs sung in the temples. 

Krishnamoorthy completed his primary education in Bilagi and then enrolled to high school in Bagalkot where he used to receive food from kind individuals who fed the underprivileged pupils. In Kannada they call them as Varada mani hudugaru. 

When he was 14 years old, he met an 18-year-old widow during his high school years who had lost her husband just a year before. She was so limited to staying exclusively in rooms with low lighting. She had never been in contact with anyone else and had never seen the sun. This caused him to reflect and reform society's social norms. Such circumstances eventually became a major theme in his book, poetry, etc.  

After graduating from Karnataka College, he met several people, including Bendre, Betageri, and Gokak. He joined Municipal High School as a Kannada teacher in the year 1935 and the same year he got married with Ganga. 

His approach to literature was quite methodical..  He published Ramoona Kathegalu in the year 1946, Baal Kanasu 1947. The first novel, Mugila Mallige published in the year 1948.

 

He wrote constantly. With his earnest and diligent efforts, he was able to produce 116 books totaling 19,879 pages. Of them, 80 were novels, 12 collections of short stories, 11 poetry plays, and 8 works of children's literature. Instead of using his imagination, he was getting close to the events, being involved, and using that to make things happen. He brought his sentiments into actuality and engaged the readers in the issue.

Some of his writings were made into successful Kannada and Tamil movies. Of the eleven, Anireekshitha(1970), Bhageerathi(1969), Halunda Thavaru(1994), Hoo Bisilu(1971), 

Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu(1962), Kulavadhu(1963), Mannina Magalu(1974), Pavana Ganga(1977),Sanaadi Appanna(1977), Suli(1978), etc. are the prominent cinemas. 

In 1959, he received his first Award for the book Mannina Magalu (Daughter of the Soil); At 1969, Taralabalu Jagadguru delivered the Kadambari Sree award; in Hubballi, all of his admirers gave him "Kadambari Darshan" when he turned 60. 

Krishnamoorthy Puranik passed away on November 12, 1985, at the age of 74, yet his commitment to our Kannada literature has made him immortal.

Kandagal Hanamantaraya

On January 11, 1896, Shree Hanamantaraya was born in Kandagal (in the Bilagi taluk) to Shree Bheemarao and Shreemati Gangubai. His interest was in folklore songs, bhajana, theatre, etc., even though his parents wanted him to get the academic credentials to work in government departments.

He began attending all the theatres for plays instead of going to school, and subsequently he began composing plays.  He wrote "Paroo" and "Tarale Toppige" to perform during Ganesh Chavati- festival, earning him a prize from F.G. Halakatti in 1965. Even after joining the military, his enthusiasm in play(dramas and theater) did not go down.

He was the manager, owner, etc. of Drama Company and was familiar with every facet of it. He founded the "Shree Krishna Nataka Company" at Vijayapur and staged his own play, "Sandhya Raaga." Mudaveedu Krishnaraya and Aloor Venkataraya appreciated it since it was extremely successful in both Vijayapur and Dharawad. Hanamantaraya's enthusiasm in dramas prevented him from working in the banking sector either. His participation as a director in the Yallubai drama "Sandya Raaga," which was successful even in south Canara  also.

Then he joined as a manager in “Vaani Vilas Naataka Company”, played “Raja Harishchandra” and “Vara Pradhana” got highest appreciation from the audience. With this experience, once again he established “Lalit Kaloddaraka Naataka Mandali”  and played Varapradan  of “Punya Prabha and Akshayamba”.  Famous stars like Siddramappa and Ameerbai acted in these plays also. Raktaraatri, Kurukshetra and Badatanada Bhoota, dramas written by Kandagal Hanumantaraaya, brought success to Siddaramappa.

He wrote “Badatanada Bhoota”. Subsequently, this company reached even Hyderabad and he was honoured as “Shakespeare of Karnataka” by “Sir Siddappa Kambali”. 

Hanamantaraya has authored 36 dramas, according to the information that is currently available. 12 of these are Pouranika, 2 are historical, and 8 are social.  14- dramas are in the form of manuscripts (8-ekaanka and six are mooranka). Mahadev Kanavi wrote a booklet, “Kandagal Smriti”, Dr Sriram Ittannavar edited it. Then, Shree Alagi wrote a book on Kandagal Hanamntaraya. 

To honour him: A drama theatre has been started in Guledagudda and Vijayapur and Smaraka Vedike in Bilagi.

   

Goharbai Karnataki or Miss Gohar of Bijapur

Hussain Khan, a tabla player from the little hamlet of Bilagi, had six daughters. Allamma (Ahilya) was the first, followed by Amirbai, Gauhar (born in 1908), badi Munni, Chhoti Munni, and Nanhi Munni. And a Son, and his name was Dastgir. 

 

Gauhar (Gauramma), who comes from a singing family, worked for the Vanivilas Natak mandali theatre group. Because they were close to Sangli/Miraj and Kolhapur and fell under the jurisdiction of the Bombay Presidency, Hubli, Dharwad, and Belgaum were regular locations for their theatrical company. Nilkanth Panchakshari Buwa, a blind instructor, taught Gauhar the fundamentals of classical music. Basavanna, the brother of the legendary classical vocalist Mallikarjuna Mansur, composed songs for Gauhar and played the harmonium during her performances. 

Gauhar started acting in Marathi and Hindi films. She acted, sang and also composed her own songs, but no records were brought out. Gauhar was mesmerised by the famous Marathi singer cum actor BAL GANDHARVA. She first met him in 1937, in actor Himalayawala's flat. From 1938, Gauhar remained with Balgandharva till she died in 1964.

She acted in films like Raas vilas-32, Kala Pahad and Sohni mahiwal-33, Kala vagh and Shak karta Shivaji (M)-34, Pyar ki Maar-35, Bansriwala, Gol Nishan and Graduate-36, Kala Bhoot and Chabuk swar-37, Vijay Danka-38, Hawai khatola and Swadesh sewa-46. Chabuk Sawaar-37 was a stunt film a-la Fearless Nadiya style wherein she did some stunts. 

She must have sung atleast 100 songs but since there were no records, there is no information. However, she has sung many Marathi natyageet and Bhajans.

Some of the songs sung by Goharbai:

Dr. M C Modi

Murigeppa Channaveerappa Modi (4 October 1916 – 11 November 2005) was an Indian ophthalmologist and eye surgeon.

Dr. Modi was an Ayurvedic Eye surgeon who performed a record half-a-million (more than five-lakh) eye surgeries. He travelled to remote villages and towns of India to hold mass eye camps. He was known for his dexterity as a surgeon and diagnostic acumen. He Studied DAM from Kankanwadi Ayurvedic College Belagavi, Karnataka. 

An Indian ophthalmologist, born in  Bilagi  of Bagalkot district. He is an alumnus of KLE U's Shri B M Kankanawadi Ayurved Mahavidyalaya Belgaum.

After attending Gandhiji's historic prayer meeting in Bombay on August 8, 1942, where the Quit India resolution was adopted, Modi abandoned a profitable career in private practise. His life was altered by that meeting. The talented ophthalmologist Modi has devoted his life to helping those who are blind. "When I witnessed blind individuals begging, I was moved. Simply put, they lacked the funds to visit a doctor. Modi remembered. "Dr. Modi is thought to have completed a record five lakh (half a million) eye surgery. He travelled to India's rural cities and villages to host massive eye camps. 

He was the pioneer of mass eye surgery in India. He being an Ayurvedic surgeon The Guinness Book of World Records lists Modi as the "most dedicated doctor," for performing the highest number of eye surgeries. He performed as many as 833 cataract operations in one day.

 He visited 46,120 villages and 12,118,630 patients, and performed a total of 610,564 operations to February 1993."When my time comes I would like to disappear silently" he concluded. He meant that when death comes to him he would accept it wholeheartedly and die without troubling anyone with all the good and bad he did. 

 In 1980, Dr. Modi set up the M.C. Modi Charitable Eye Hospital in Mahalakshmipuram, Bangalore: initially functioning as camp-based eye hospital, it treated thousands of poor and needy patients with eye ailments over the years, and is now a super-specialty eye hospital. Today, the hospital is headed by his son, Amarnath Modi. 

 In an assembly line fashion, Modi operated 40 patients an hour, attending to four patients at a time. Ambidextrous, he performed delicate eye surgeries with his left hand. He did cataract operations, squint corrections and cornea transplants. Earlier, Modi used to perform 600 to 700 operations a day in his camps. But later stages in Karnataka, he operated on 200 to 300 patients every day. Dr. Modi was a nominated member of the Karnataka Legislative Council for a term in the 1990s. 

 Dr. Modi set out to hold eye camps in the then Bombay State, which included parts of Karnataka. He travelled to remote villages and towns to hold camps, often with very little financial or medical support. He mobilized support from local voluntary organizations and people. He also received assistance from India and abroad for his mission. Those operated upon were being given spectacles free of cost. 

 Dr. Modi's phenomenal contributions in the field of medical social service has not gone unappreciated. The government of India has awarded him with its highest awards of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Hellen Keller, the blind and deaf-mute American author, attended one of his camps in 1954, and asked him: "Have you insured your hands?" Dr. Modi appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records in the year 1986, for performing 833 eye operations in a day, the highest in the world. These operations were conducted in Tirupati in 1968 over 14 continuous hours. He was fondly called "Modi, Kannukotta anna", the brother who gave vision, by people in his native state Karnataka. This anna has performed all the eye operations free of cost. Helen Keller, who spoke of him as "a light piercing the darkness with his selfless service". 

 Awards:

Padma Shri  in 1956

Padma Bhushan in 1968

Knight of the Blind award

Doctarate by Mysore University, Karnataka University and Puna University

Watumull Award Humanitarian Award in 1989.

Sanaadi Appanna

In the year 1876, Subbanna Bhajantri gave birth to Appanna in Bilagi as his second son. 

A group of people who used to play music at important events including weddings and sacred festivals are known as a bhajantrigaru. Shehanayi or Sanadi is one of the several tools utilized in this process.  Still there are lot of people around Bilgi take this as profession and play shehanayi in weddings and festivals. In Bilgi there are Appanna's dynasty who played the shehanayi at international levels also.

His father provided this work of art and his brother Babanna helped Appanna to sustain it.  Appanna became well-known and adapted both the Hindustani Sangeeta and the Karnataka Sangeeta via his earnest devotion to this art. 

Appanna gained the hearts of countless people because of his devotion, humility, and sincerity. He was welcomed to every programme and became very famous.

Even though he passed away on September 6, 1945, he is still present in the world today thanks to the film:  Sanadi Appanna..

Sanaadi Appanna is a 1977 Indian Kannada-language musical film directed by Vijay based on the novel Kuniyitu Hejje Naliyithu Gejje by Krishnamoorthy Puranik which was based of Sanaadi appannas life story.  Krishnamoorthy Puranik is also an eminent of Bilgi wrote Sanadi appanna's story as a novel.

In this film Dr Rajkumar played the role of Sanaadi appanna. It is notable for the fact that Bismillah Khan played the actual shehnai for Rajkumar's character in this movie.

We are proud to say Sanaadi Appanna is from the holy land of Bilgi.

Yelu Math

 
From Sri Siddeshwar temple of Bilgi, When we climb the hillock towards north, there is a police wireless station, Maal Gamba, tomb of Baba saab and at a distance towards south-west, there is Yelu Math or Elu math. Very nice place for meditation. We need to trek for around 4-5 kilometers to reach this place... You can see the way how it looks:

There are two ways to reach this place. One was mentioned above from Shree Siddeshwar temple. And the other one is from behind Shree Siddeshwar school enroute to Nagaral thanda or Koppar padevva temple. By any means we have to trek around 5-6 kms inside the hill.

From long distance itself it looks like a white house in the hill:

When you go inside the temple you see seven doors hence the name Yelu Math. In kannada Seven means Yelu- Elu. This temple is of three floors. When you enter, its actually the middle floor. There is a small square which will take you to the ground floor. You need to enter and go down there to see Shivalingam.. Thats the actual place to visit and meditate.

 

In the ground floor there is a place for the meditation. It's really awesome. If you visit Bilgi, don't miss to visit Yelu math. We have captured a video of the whole Elu math. Please see it to experience this awesome architecture. Also when you trek to this place inside the hill, it a thrilling experience.

Amirbai Karnataki

Bilagi, a beautiful place with the above said historical evidences has become a birthplace or a place for their prosperity in their profession and career. Several eminents, who served as Administrators, Artists, Doctors, Scientists, Professors, Freedom Fighters, Swamiji, Industrialist, Educationists, Novelist, Poets, Linguists, etc. are from Bilagi.

Amirbai Karnataki (c. 1906 – 3 March 1965) was a famous actress/singer and playback singer of the early Hindi cinema and was famous as Kannada Kokila. Mahatma Gandhi was an ardent fan of her song Vaishnav Jan To.^[1]

Husainsaab and Ameenaabi's daughter Amirbai Karnataki, who was born in Bilagi in the decade of the nineteenth century (1906) had four sisters and a brother. When all of these were still children, Husainsaab passed away. As a result, Ameenaabi's brother Hatailsaheb began looking after this family. This family was also referred to as the Tummarmatti family because Ameenaabi was from Tummarmatti a village near Bilgi.

The children of this household could only manage a rudimentary education in Bilagi. Due to the family's musical heritage, Amirbai developed a growing interest in dramas and excelled in both singing and acting. Savayi Gandharva saw this rarity in a personality and invited her to work for his company. Accordingly, the entire family was shifted to Vijayapur. People admired Ameerbai after appreciating her melodic voice and lively action, other theatre companies gave her a red carpet welcome as well.  The name and fame of Amirbai (Ameerbai) made her to enter into cinema field and shifted her residence to Mumbai. 

Because of her melodious voice, she could sing in Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, etc. She played prime roles in several cinemas. She was kind and generous lady and Ameer theatre in Vijayapur is the reminiscence of this great artist.

Goharbai Karnataki or Miss Gohar of Bijapur was the sister of Amirbai, who also acted in lot films and Sung lot of songs in differernt languages.

Amirbai Karnataki has sung lot of songs, some of them are:

• "O' Jaanay Waalay Balamwa Laut Kay Aa Laut Kay Aa" Sung by Amirbai Karnataki and Shyam Kumar, lyrics by D. N. Madhok and music by Naushad Ali in the film Rattan (1944)^[4]
• "Dheere Dheere Aa Re, Baadal", from the film Kismat (1943)
• "Priya madhuvanadali", a Kannada song, sung by Amirbai, which is so popular all over Karnataka even today

She had a paralytic attack in 1965, died just four days later, and was buried in Bilgi. Still "Amir Talkies" in the city of Vijayapura (Bijapur), run by her family. 

Songs Playlist from Wynk of Amirbai:

https://wynk.in/u/kQ21P8AYE 

Tribute to AmirBai Karnataki from Radio Ceylon:
 

Koppar Padevva Temple

On the route from Bilgi to Nagaral Tanda, there is the Koppar Padevva temple. Sri Koppar Padevva temple is located 3-5 kilometres from Siddeshwar School on a little road that leads to Nagaral Tanda...

Koppar means in Kannada, a hill top. hence the name. Deity is Padevva. So the temple is known as Koppar Padevva temple.

It is situated between the hills. Very scenery place. You can go through the snaps below. You can see Sindhur Lakxman's death place also there. You can see a very nice statue of Sri Hanuman there in the temple. 

In rainy season you can find lot of water falls around this temple. This temple is as situated in between the hills, there are no nearby persons or sounds.. It's a place for meditation. Lot of sadhu's and sants will be meditating around this place.. People of Bilgi usually visit this temple on Amavasya and Hunnimme days. There will be a fair there on Bharat Hunnimme day here.