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.