Mangaluru : Journalist and art critic A Ishwarayya passed away in Udupi on Sunday. He was 78.

Ishwarayya was a multi-faceted personality. He had learnt music at Kalamandira in Mangaluru and was well-versed in playing the flute, violin and clarinet. He was also a good photographer and an art critic. As a music lover, Ishwarayya started the Ragadhwani organisation in Udupi, which held music concerts in houses every month under the name ‘Manemane Sangeetha’.

Ishwarayya entered the journalism field by being the part of the editorial team of Udayavani and was known for his columns — ‘Lalitharanga’ and ‘Kalavihara’. Through these columns, he gave priority to Yakshagana as well. He was also the editor of Tus…

Being a good writer, he translated the 16th volume of the Vishwakathakosha edited by writer Niranjan into Kannada. More than 60 of his short stories have been published in Sudha, Kasturi, Mayura, Prajamatha, Mallige and other Kannada magazines.

Ishwarayya won the ‘Polya Yakshagana Prashasti’, the ‘Karnataka Rajya Pathrika Academy Award’, the ‘Sandesha Award’, the ‘Parashurama Prashasti’, and the ‘Vyasa Sahitya Prashasti’, among others.

A biography on Ishwarayya, ‘Kalalokada Chintaka – A Ishwarayya’, was published by Kantavara Kannada Sangha recently.

Ishwarayya is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.