Beltangady : Rishika Singh, actress and daughter of  noted director SV Rajendra Singh Babu is mired in a controversy ever since she chose to downplay Yakshagana, the rich art of the coastal region.

Participating in the Big Boss reality show on a Kannada TV channel,  Rishika  during a discussion with co-participant Arun Sagar, an art director  all of a sudden remarked Yakshagna was ‘Dabba’ As it was aired, there  was much resentment. State Yakshagana Academy President Dr ML Samaga who was at Shibaje recently  said such comments on a rich art was unwelcome. He described Yakshagana as a sacred art. Yakshagana should not be looked at or treated with hatred, Samaga said.